NCC, NESREA lock horns over MTN base station

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Environment Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NASREA) lock horns over whose mandate it is to regulate base stations.

The latest in contention was the base station belonging to MTN Nigeria located at Efab Estate, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

This follows the unsealing of the base station hitherto sealed by NESREA by the operatives of NCC on Monday.

Officials of NCC confirmed that NESREA's action was tantamount to regulatory interference in the telecommunications industry in Nigeria.

“It’s an interference on NCC’s regulatory activities as NASREA discountenanced the Commission's regulation on installation of masts and towers,” declared the Director of Public Affairs at NCC, as quoted in a press statement made available to ITRealms Online by the Head, Media and Public Relations, Mr. Reuben Muoka immediately after the unsealing.

Director of Public Affairs of NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo  (middle, speaking to the press)

after the unsealing of the MTN Base Station. With him L-R: Head, Compliance 

Monitoring of NCC,  Mr. Ephraim Nwokoneya (left) and Mr. Reuben 

Muoka,  Head, Media and Public Relations, NCC.

ITRealms Online recalls NCC is the independent National Regulatory Authority for the telecommunications industry in Nigeria, responsible for creating an enabling environment for competition among operators in the industry as well as ensuring the provision of qualitative and efficient telecommunications services throughout the country.

Conversely, the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) was established as a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Housing and Urban Development with NESREA Act of July 30, 2007 mandating the agency enforce all environmental laws, guidelines, policies, standards and regulations in Nigeria.

Remmy Nweke

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