Indications suggesting failure in the efforts of the telecoms regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in engaging states governments’ on issues bordering on special considerations for telecoms infrastructure as critical national assets have emerged in Taraba State.
This stemmed from the current shut down of key base transceiver station (BTS) sites of Global System for Mobile (GSM) operators in parts of the state over operators’ inability to meet payment of yearly environmental protection levy of N285m each.
Before now, several states had been frustrating investment and network expansion drive especially in fibre optic cable (FOC) network development.
The Taraba State Environmental Protection Agency (TSEPA) had approached a High Court in Jalingo through the state Ministry of Justice to effect the clampdown on telecom infrastructure following what the agency described as failure to comply with the demand for the payment.
Accordingly, all strategic business and corporate activities relying on data in the state including banking services, security and even government activities were grounded as networks remain inactive within the state.
Trouble started when TSEPA requested for the registration of Environmental Impact Assessment for every telecom site in the state, verification of the EIA report and annual environmental monitoring on the site.
Business Hilights gathered that the entire registration procedures entail payment of N285m levy to the state Ministry of Environment.
It would be recalled that NCC had been engaging with several state governments on issues bordering on multiple taxation on telecoms as a way of support for the expansion of networks so that broadband penetration targets can be feasible nationwide, but such attacks on networks may be interpreted in some quarters as breach in the ongoing understanding talks between states and NCC.
Nigeria currently targets to hit about 30 per cent broadband penetration by year end, but industry experts fear possibilities of not meeting the target when such clampdowns are becoming rampant across the states that had been seeing telecoms as oil companies and wealthy investors.
Business Hilights Northern Bureau Chief gathered from a copy of a letter written by the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) to the Taraba State Governor and copied to the Federal ministries of Justice and Finance; NCC; State Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps; and other security agencies, that a court ruling had directed states to desist from imposing fees outside those listed in the Taxes and Levies (Approved list of Collection) Act of 1998.
The letter signed by the ALTON Chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, and Executive Secretary, Kazeem ‘Ladepo, noted that the illegal sealing of base stations was a criminal offence under the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous) Provisions Act CAP. C39 L.F.N. (2004).
ALTON averred that TSEPA action does not follow due process and is a threat to national security, “The incidence of closure of our members’ BTS sites and other telecommunications infrastructure in your domain on the excuse of non-payment of arbitrarily imposed taxes and levies would impact adversely on the quality of service, as the BTS sites will go down due to lack of access to effect repairs, maintenance and refuelling of the generators on the sites.
“This development will further worsen the quality of service available to the esteemed citizens of the state, which you are voted to govern. Our members are committed to supporting the law enforcement agencies in the country to investigate and prosecute the rising rate of crimes, including kidnapping and armed robbery in the country.
“The arbitrary closure of our members’ BTS will not allow our members to support the law enforcement agencies in this regard. This poses a serious security risk to the citizens of Taraba State whom the government is constitutionally mandated to protect.
“We are highly concerned that the demand notices evidently seek to promote an arbitrary revenue drive and amount to imposing punitive measures on the telecoms industry aimed at discouraging the operations of telecommunications providers within Taraba State.”
ALTON hinted that there are about 26 taxes and levies being imposed on telecommunications companies at the federal, state and local government levels.
