NCC Calls On CSOs To Protect Nigeria's Telecommunications Infrastructure

In order to protect the nation's telecommunications infrastructure, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has requested the assistance of civil society organisations.

During the 2023 Youth, Civil Society, and Stakeholders Summit on Curbing the Destruction and Vandalization of Telecom and Other Critical National Infrastructure in Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja, the Executive Vice-Chairman, Prof. Umar Danbatta, made this statement.

The NCC's Head of Wireless Network, Chukuma Nwaiwu, spoke on behalf of Danbatta when he stated that the telecom companies have reported vandalism to the Commission.

He claimed that these actions have an effect on the services that are given and the accessibility of the digital platforms.

He listed some of the effects as follows: ”Disruption of the network services and disconnection of digital platforms.

“Congestion of alternative backup routes/networks.

"Interruption of social and economy activities, loss of revenue.

“Ripple effects on other networks and network elements. Delay in network recovery.”

Regarding the approaching general elections, Danbatta stated that technology will be essential in ensuring that Nigerians received free and fair elections.

He said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and NCC were working together to guarantee that election results were transmitted electronically in accordance with the law.

Danbatta said: “We all have a duty to protect the national telecom infrastructure as such to benefit from the dividends of democracy and good governance.

“The youth and CSOs as  critical stakeholders in the development process of any society have  dutest o educate the public of the importance of protecting telecom infrastructure located in their immediate vicinity.

“The NCC and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) are collaborating to protect telecom infrastructure as a critical national asset and have signed an MoU n this regard.”

He urged Nierians to work together to safeguard the country's telecom infrastructure for the good of everybody.

Vandalism of crucial national infrastructure, according to Musa Mohammed, Deputy President of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), can only be committed by those who lack empathy, discipline, and patriotism.

Mohammed claimed that these people do not recognise the government's sincere efforts to provide for the needs of the nation.

He asked CSOs to use all available resources and collaborate with security organisations to ensure that vandals were reported and dealt with appropriately.

“Willful damage of roads, rail tracks and other critical infrastructure in our country is not only an act of wickedness, but an act of disregard for the country’s infrastructure.

“We must all rise to fight against vandalism of national infrastructure because the damaging effects does not only affect an individual but all of us,” he urged.

Johnny Emmanuel, Director-General of the National Council for Civil Society (NCCS), had stated that the importance of civil society in the development of infrastructure should not be undervalued.

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According to Emmanuel, the NCCS planned to train more than 20,000 youngsters in each state to serve as volunteers who would collaborate with security organisations to access and monitor the level of vandalism throughout the nation.

He asked the government, in particular the national assembly, to approve a bill creating the National Infrastructure Protection Trust Fund in order to make it law.

"As law-abiding citizens, it is our duty to take control of the telecom, power, and other key infrastructure in our surroundings.

“If you partner with the civil society, we will be able to create what we call civil society anti-vandal volunteers.

“We intend to train over 20,000 youth in each state to become volunteers,” Emmanuel said.