The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has decried the wanton destruction of telecommunications infrastructures in the country.
This was as the commission stressed that telecoms consumers in Nigeria have a major role to play in complementing efforts being put in place to ensure effective protection of telecommunications infrastructure, saying that it is important to sustain and improve on the quality-of-service delivery by the service providers.
The NCC which stated these recently at a sensitization programme it organized at Wannune, Tarka Local Government Area of Benue State, stated that aside from the role of law enforcement agencies in protecting telecom infrastructure, the consumers, who are the subscribers and ultimate users of telecom services, have an obligation to do everything to protect telecoms infrastructure in their environment.
It said the infrastructures include the base transceiver stations (BTS), the underground fibre optic cable, as well as associated infrastructure.
The Director, Zonal Operations of the NCC, Amina Shehu told participants at the programme that it has become imperative for the public to regard telecom facilities as collectively-owned infrastructure that are crucial and essential for the provision of efficient and acceptable telecom services.
According to Shehu; “The more reason these facilities need to be adequately protected”.
While imploring the indigenes of Tarka Local Government Area of Benue State to ensure that they protect telecom facilities in their community, Shehu, who was represented at the event by an Assistant Director, Zonal Operations, NCC, Abubakar Usman, enjoined the consumers to always alert law enforcement agencies close to them once they suspect any act of vandalism, theft or other suspicious activities directed at telecom infrastructure because such nefarious activities have implications for quality of service delivery in the communities.
She noted the centrality of telecommunications sector to the economy, adding that in the last 15 years, telecom has been a major contributor to the nation’s economic growth and development.
Shehu assured that the NCC will continue to collaborate with relevant agencies and keep sensitising the consumers on their role in ensuring the security of telecom infrastructure.
The Zonal Director allayed the fears of the people concerning Electromagnetic Frequency (EMF) radiation emanating from telecommunications infrastructure, saying that it is not harmful as studies conducted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Commission for Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) confirmed.
According to her; “So, the Commission is saying again to you that there is no scientific evidence yet that shows that radiation from telecom masts constitute health hazards to human and we want you to help spread this information to those that are not here”.
Participants at the programme were also enlightened on the illegality of pre-registered Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards, the imperatives of proper SIM registration, the importance of National Identification Number, NIN-SIM linkage exercise.
The consumers were also informed about facilities provided by the Commission which they can use to improve their telecom experience and quality of life in general. These include the NCC Toll-free Number (622); the 112 National Emergency Number; and the Do-Not-Disturb (DND) 2442 short code for managing cases of unsolicited text messages, amongst others.
The paramount ruler of Wannune, Chief Gandeorun Orokaa, thanked the NCC for taking the sensitization programme to the community to educate the consumers on sensitive consumer-related issues as well as correcting wrong notions and clarifying misconceptions.
Orukaa called on the people to support NCC in protecting telecoms infrastructure so as to ensure that quality of service improves in the areas.
The event ended with an audience session, where questions and answers were asked, and observations and recommendations were also made on many aspects of telecom services.
In attendance at the event were Local Government workers, Village Heads, Community leaders, Students, Women leaders, Staff of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
