THE Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has decried the increase in outright theft of telecommunication equipment in the country. Prof. Umar Danbatta, executive vice chairman of the NCC, stated this in Gombe at a one-day sensitisation workshop organised by the commission for law enforcement agencies in the North East.

Represented by Efosa Idehen, head of Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement, he lamented the rising cases of vandalisation of telecom installations, facilities and infrastructure, noting that the rise of outright theft of telecoms equipment across the country has surpassed that of cybercrime which has been a source of concern to NCC.

Danbatta said the commission has also seen proliferation in the sale and usage of pre-registered Subscribers Identification Module, SIM, cards. He disclosed that NCC has rolled out various campaign strategies to educate the general public on implications and consequences of undermining the integrity of telecoms operation.

The commission has instituted series of social capital programmes to encourage the country’s socio-economic transformation. “NCC is fully committed to the implementation of the National Broadband Plan, to deploy more broadband fibre networks beyond major cities and we have issued licenses to two infrastructure companies while the remaining five companies will be licensed shortly. This is expected to further boost business as well as improve life and catalyze economic growth at the remotest areas,” he said.

In his keynote address, the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim K. Idris, thanked the NCC for providing a forum for law enforcement agencies to deepen their understanding of issues with a view to providing solutions to challenges in the telecoms industry.

Idris, who was represented by Gombe state Commissioner of Police, Austin Iwar, also decried the increase in the use of pre-registered SIM cards to commit crime, and therefore sought for collaboration with the NCC to stop the menace. – Daily Trust

—  Jul 24, 2017 @ 13:20 GMT