Executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, has said telecom infrastructure is very critical to the successful conduct of the 2023 elections.
He therefore appealed to Nigerians to join hands in protecting the infrastructure for the benefit of the country.
Danbatta spoke as a special guest at the 6th edition of the annual conference of Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) in Lagos.
The event was attended by the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
The NCC boss said with the planned transmission of election data and results riding on telecom infrastructure, there was a need to ensure the fidelity of the transmission systems to enhance the credibility of such data.
He said, “If telecom infrastructure is vandalised or damaged, it would create problem in the area of the data transmission during election; citizens will find it difficult to use their phones to seamlessly communicate and the journalists too might find it difficult in being able to access their web platforms to disseminate necessary information which members of the public require to make informed decisions at every point in time.”
Danbatta recalled that over the years, the telecoms sector had continued to face destabilising situations arising from negative attitudes and actions of hostile communities; theft of diesel, batteries, and power generating sets from telecom base stations; digging up and cutting of fibre optic cables by construction workers; indiscriminate sealing/locking-up of Base Transceiver Station (BTS) sites by state governments, other governmental and community stakeholders; as well as other disruptive activities which must be decisively tackled.
While reiterating the importance of telecommunications in all aspects of human lives, including the forthcoming general elections and other national activities and programmes, Danbatta said without telecom infrastructure, it would be difficult to communicate with family and friends over long distances or conducting banking, insurance, or accessing government and other social services, including education, entertainment, and other essentials services that enhance quality of life.
