The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has urged all Nigerians to assume the responsibility of a watchdog to telecom infrastructure across the country, noting that telecom infrastructure is a Critical National Asset.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, made the call in Sapele, Delta State at a sensitisation forum focused on the imperative of protecting telecom infrastructure.
“All citizens should see telecom infrastructure as a critical national asset because of the centrality of telecoms to the effective delivery of services in all other sectors of the economy,” he said in a paper presented on his behalf by Venny Eze-Nwabufoh, Controller of NCC Port Harcourt Zonal Office.
The EVC said the overarching mandate of the Commission is to promote the provision of modern, universal, efficient, reliable, affordable and easily accessible communication services in Nigeria and to carry out this duty efficiently, the Commission requires the support of all stakeholders towards the protection of telecom Infrastructure, which are essentially physical and virtual assets designed for telecommunication networks that connect cities, towns, highways and also link to other countries.
He said it has become necessary to reiterate the need to protect critical infrastructure because the telecom industry has experienced a lot of setbacks as a result of willful damages of telecoms facilities and other damages caused by those involved in road construction and repairs.
“These incidents of damage to telecom infrastructure have implications for quality of telecom services,” he added while appealing to participants at the forum to prevent vandalism of telecommunication facilities in their respective communities.