FG worries over spate of telecoms infrastructure vandalism

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has raised the alarm over activities of vandals on telecommunications infrastructure in the country, saying the ugly trend was responsible for the high cost of services charged subscribers by the operators.

Frofessor Umar Garba Danbatta, the EVC of NCC, who made the disclosure at a civil society roundtable on the digital economy, in Abuja recently, lamented that subscribers bear the consequences of vandals on facilities of network providers through a tariff on voice calls and data.

The roundtable on the digital economy with the theme, “maximising the potential of digital entrepreneurship for youth empowerment and self-reliance”, was organised by Civil Society Groups for Good Governance (CSGGG), and held at the Army Resource Centre, Abuja.

Danbatta also said fixed broadband infrastructure gaps, right of way issues, multiple regulation and taxation, forex scarcity, electricity and duplication of functions are the other challenges that contributed to the encumbrances bore by telecoms consumers.

Represented by Mr A. K. Nwaulune, Director, Digital Economy Department, the NCC boss said the vandalisation of telecoms infrastructure create costs and those costs are going to be advance by consumers.

According to him, “The important thing that I want you to know is that the vandalisation create costs and those costs are going to be advanced by you.

“So, you are just getting trouble for yourself by vandalism because you go and cut fibre and you can sell fibre because it’s stolen property, you’re not going to even sell it at the market value because it’s tokunbo that you are selling.

“And you’re creating trouble for others. So, we want you to help us market the fact that the more you vandalise, the higher the cost and the more the tariff charges that you pay.”

Speaking on the merits of the digital economy, Danbatta noted that the, “Economic diversification can greatly be achieved, just as its efforts at social prosperity and integration are clearly obvious.

“Digital economy requires home grown innovative digital Skill, targeted at the peculiarities of the Nigerian Market and Populace and requires a Digitally Literate Citizenry who can take advantage of these innovative solutions,” the NCC Chairman said.

He noted that, “It requires the Digital Infrastructure on which the Training/Skills Acquisition will be provided and on which the innovative solutions can be deployed.

“The Commission, as a coordinator for Digital Economy for the Communications Industry, continues to strive to ensure all necessary projects, approvals, regulatory amendments and Stakeholder collaboration required to achieve the goal, are carried out.”

On progress recorded in the sector, he said: “The Telecoms sector in Nigeria has witnessed significant and unprecedented growth as Nigeria currently has 187,805,237 mobile lines, and 98.39 per cent teledensity.

“The telecoms Sector has enabled economic transformation in various sectors of Nigeria’s economy; Banking, HealthCare, Commerce, Education, Agriculture etc. The Digital Economy offers Nigeria the opportunity to grow and diversify its economy from the overdependence on oil & gas.”

He added: “Digital economy; Digital Economy refers to the full range of economic, social and cultural activities supported by the Internet and related emerging information and communications technologies.

Three components of the digital economy are Infrastructure, Innovative services and entrepreneurship products and Digital Skills”