Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) has disclosed that telecommunication operators have recorded over 33, 000 cases of vandalism and stealing of their facilities.NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Umar Danbatta disclosed this in Minna, Niger State, at a one-day sensitisation programme on “Protection of telecoms infrastructure”.
He said the incidents took place from June 2017 to August 2018, adding that infrastructure vandalism, fibre cables and battery thefts were also prominent, with Globacom, being the worse hit. He lamented that the menace is responsible for the poor network services in some parts of the country.
Danbatta disclosed that the situation has also affected network users negatively, with attendant huge losses to telecom operators and low revenue for the government. Represented by the Head, zonal operations department, Mrs. Helen Obi, he said for Nigeria to achieve its broadband penetration target by the end of the year, such criminal activities must be nipped in the bud. He said: “The advent of telecommunication has changed the way we live compared to how we lived in 2001. However, there are some challenges pervading the seamless provision of services in the country. Read more