As part of efforts to drum more support for the security of telecommunications
infrastructure in the country, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and law
enforcement agencies assembled in the city of Port Harcourt, Rivers State for
brainstorming, reports ITRealms.
Correspondent reports that the consciousness of the
centrality of telecommunications and the revolutionary benefits the nation has
derived from the exponential growth in the telecommunication sector, was the bottom-line
for the session.
ITRealms also
gathered that they were concerned about the attendant challenges, particularly
the antics of criminals who through vandalism of telecom infrastructure, theft,
and use of pre-registered SIM cards, are causing disruptions in telecom
operations and undermining efforts at consolidating sectoral gains.
This, NCC said, was why the Commission is currently holding
sensitization workshops for law enforcement agencies in all geopolitical zones
of the country.
According to the Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo,
this workshops have been designed as a strategic partnership and collaboration
between NCC and the nation's security sector, to embolden enforcement
processes; the laws and regulatory frameworks; challenges of prosecution; and
how ICT enables effective policing.
He also noted that similar workshops have been held in Lagos
and Kano as anchors for the South West and North West zones respectively.
ITRealms further
gathered this workshop under review targets the law enforcement agencies in the
South South zone.
The Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta,
represented by Mr. Efosa Idehen, Head Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement, commended
participants for good attendance and robust participation.
He also requested all law enforcement agencies to amplify
the voice of the Commission, particularly in its determination to make 2017
Year Of The Telecom Consumer, a programme unveiled just a week ago to sensitize
the public and heighten awareness about consumer issues across the industry.
“The increasingly strategic role of telecommunications and
ICT in the economy, the fact that the commanding heights of the economy and all
other sectors ride on telecoms services provided by operators regulated by NCC
demand that the challenges confronting telecom operations be tackled speedily,”
he said.
Idehen explained the current collaborative initiative of the
Commission with the security sector to ensure that law enforcement agencies are
conscious of their roles under the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, and other
extant laws, regulations, guidelines and directions guiding telecommunication
operation in Nigeria, up to and including arrests and prosecution of those who
contravene the telecom laws in Nigeria.
This, he said, would help to ensure that the Quality of
Service and the Quality of Consumer Experience are improved upon qualitatively
with concrete benefits to the consumer, the telecom industry and the country at
large.
ITRealms reports that
participants at the workshop included personnel from the Office of the National
Security Adviser; the Nigeria Police Force; Nigerian Customs Service; the
Department of State Services; and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence
Corps.
Uboshe Uboshe/GEE
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