The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in a recent report has admitted that it actually receives over 40 vandalisation reports on telecom structures across the federation daily.
The commission also noted that the situation underlines the need for all stakeholders to put their hands together toward protecting the structures as theirs.
Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, the executive vice-chairman of the NCC, made this revelation during a telecom consumer conversation village square dialogue with the theme ‘Protection of Telecom infrastructure for improved quality of service, the role of residents,’ organised by the NCC.
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The EVC NCC, represented by Engr Bako Wakili, NCC director, Technical Standard and Network Integrity Department, at the event, Danbatta said the commission is sensitising the public on the need for communities to own up the structure.
He said vandalisation of telecom structures reduced the quality of service as well as coverage area leading to dead spots on the network which result in poor quality of service, adding that it also discouraged investors from investing in Nigeria should their infrastructures be continuously vandalized or stolen.
Similarly, Malam Shu’aibu Swade, NCC zonal controller in Kano, said there is a need for robust sensitisation to solicit communities’ cooperation in protecting and guarding telecom structures for improved quality services to consumers.
He further stated that there is a need for the communities to understand that it is a duty upon them not to damage telecom infrastructure and also to allow installation of equipment and maintenance and or repairs on sites by the technical staff of service providers for quality telecom service delivery.