The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, has supported the ongoing advocacy by the Nigerian Communications Commission, (NCC) to Nigerians on the need for protection of telecom facilities in the country in view of the invaluable benefits of the sector to national development.
The monarch, who spoke through the Ayingun Olubadan of Ibadan, Chief Ademola Odunade, at the Village Square Dialogue (VSD) of NCC at the Mapo Hall, Ibadan recently, advised members of the public “to support NCC to achieve its objectives of protecting telecoms consumer because this should be seen as a collective responsibility.”
The event, which was presided over by the Chairman of the Board of the NCC, Prof. Adeolu Akande, was designed to discuss one of the most important issues affecting the operations of the telecom industry – the protection of telecoms infrastructure to guarantee improved quality of service for benefits of businesses and the consumers.
Akande, in his address at the forum urged telecom services consumers and other stakeholders to join hands in protecting telecoms infrastructure in their communities to ensure sustained connectivity.
According to him, the public engagement forum is mainly organized to explore how we can all protect telecom infrastructure to continue to provide us with life-supporting services and we are happy to bring this programme to Oyo State to really sensitise telecom consumers and other critical stakeholders in this regard.”
Akande, who pointed out that without telecom infrastructure, it will be difficult to communicate over long distances conducting businesses and other essentials of life, explained that “this means that telecom infrastructure is important, and we must all ensure that we guard and protect this Critical National Infrastructure.”
The NCC chairman listed such destabilising situations in the telecom sector to include the negative attitudes and actions of hostile communities; theft of diesel, batteries and power generators from base stations; digging up and cutting of fibre optic cables; sealing/locking up of Base Transceiver Station (BTS) sites and other disruptive activities which must be tackled decisively.
Speaking at the forum, the commission’s Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, Efosa Idehen, who commended the consumers from the Ibadan axis for turning out in numbers, promised the commission’s commitment towards consumers’ protection and enlightenment at all times.
The Director said: “Therefore, part of activities to deliver on this mandate is this type of programme holding in Ibadan today. We value your feedback on all kinds of services you receive in the telecoms sector but most importantly, we implore you to join hands in protecting telecom infrastructure in your areas.”
He advised members of the public to report any suspected cases of threats to telecoms infrastructure to law enforcement agents in their areas for necessary interventions.
