NCC RAISES ALARM OVER 33,000 CASES OF STEALING AND DESTRUCTION OF EQUIPMENT
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Nigerian Communication Commission has raised an alarm over 33,000 cases of stealing and destruction of equipment
Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Umar Danbatta of Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), in Minna, Niger State, at a one-day sensitization programme on “Protection of telecoms infrastructure” disclosed that telecommunication operators have recorded over 33,000 cases of vandalism and stealing of their equipment.
Danbatta said that the happenings occurs within June 2017 to August 2018, adding that infrastructure vandalism, fibre cables and battery thefts were also noticeable, with Globalcom having the highest number of records, and attributed it to the poor network services experienced in some parts of the country.
He stated that the situation has also influenced network users negatively, making telecom operators to losses and reducing the revenue of the government.
The Head, Zonal operations department, represented by Mrs Helen Obi said for Nigeria to attain its broadband penetration target by the end of the year, such criminal deeds must be apprehended. He said: “The advent of telecommunication has changed the way we live comparatively to how we lived in 2001. However, there are some challenges pervadind the seamless provision of services in the country.
“Telecom facilities have been targets of vandalism, theft and hostility in some host communities. These have been the recurring challenges that have affected the attainment of applicable of service standards in the industry.”
The executive vice chairman added: “The service provision has brought a lot of value to our lives. We should protect the structures that support the data that we use for a wide range of things. He urged the National Assembly to quickly pass the Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) bill that is pending before it, adding that such would ensure that the network providers’ facilities identified as important national asset, and protected.
The NCC boss clarified that the sensitisation programme was to make sure that consumers are not left to erroneous information that could lead them to destroy these facilities. He said with the contribution of the sector to the economy, there is the need to devise stricter ways to protect its facilities.
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