The Nigerian Communications Commission has expressed concern over the frequent destruction and theft of telecommunications equipment in many communities in the country.
The telecom regulatory agency said the people should take ownership of the infrastructure and protect them from thieves and vandals.
The Chairman, NCC Board of Commissioners, Prof Adeolu Akande, while speaking at a stakeholders’ forum organised by the commission in Ibadan on Friday, charged residents of the town and Nigerians in general to always report suspicious movements around telecoms installations to security agencies.
Akande said so many aspects of the economy relied on telecommunications, adding that disruption of telecom services by any means would have a negative effect on almost every other sector.
The NCC board of commissioners’ chairman said, “We are here in Ibadan to discuss one of the most important issues affecting us, which is how to protect telecom infrastructure. Telecom infrastructure is important, and we must ensure that we take it as a critical national infrastructure.
“We need cooperation of members of the public and consumers to protect the infrastructure; we are doing this across the country to seek the support of Nigerians and telecom service providers.”
The NCC Director of Consumers Affairs Bureau, Efosa Idehen, urged residents to support telecom companies by ensuring that their equipment was always protected from theft and destruction.
“Let’s all work together to ensure that the infrastructure is protected for better and quality service delivery,” he stated.
The Olubadan of Ibadaland, Oba Lekan Balogun, stressed the importance of the protection of telecom equipment by the people.
The monarch, who was represented by Chief Ademola Odunade, urged the people to allow telecom firms to install their masts in their areas, saying, “No demons will disturb you if they install it in your area.”
