NCC steps up telecom infrastructure protection, partners with security agencies
Lead regulator of telecoms services, the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) begun discussions with relevant security agencies on how best telecom installations, facilities and infrastructure can best be secured.
Explaining issues during a workshop on sensitisation of law enforcement agencies for the North Central Zone on telecommunication issues in Keffi, Nasarawa State, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the commission, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, said the coming of mobile telecom in Nigeria with its phenomenal growth and contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has come with proliferation of cyber crimes, theft and vandalism of telecom equipment.
He further observed that “the growth witnessed in the telecommunications sector in the last 15 years has been phenomenal by all standards,” saying “From less than half a million lines on the eve of our democratic revival, today, active connected telephones lines are about 150 million. This has come with a concomitant increase in teledensity”.
Represented by the Head, Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Unit of the commission, Mr. Efosa Idehen, the EVC averred that the task before the Commission was to form a coalition of forces in a renewed strategic partnership with all players in the security sector to contain every form of criminal assault on telecommunications operations in Nigeria.
“We have witnessed a very painful rise in tempo of outright theft of telecommunication equipment as well as vandalism of telecommunication installations, facilities and infrastructure.
“We have also seen proliferation in the sale and usage of pre-registered subscribers’ identification module (SIM) cards, all of which constitute infractions of the NCC Act 2003, and other extant regulations governing the telecommunication sector.
Highlight of the speech was his revelation that NCC has commenced the process for the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Danbatta expressed the hope that the same deal may soon be sealed with other security agencies as the need may arise from time to time and place to place.
