By
The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, has emphasized the critical role of telecom infrastructure in ensuring the credibility of the 2023 general elections. He called on all Nigerians to actively protect these vital assets, warning that any damage to telecom facilities could undermine data transmission during the polls.
Speaking at the 6th Annual Conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) in Lagos, where the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, was also in attendance, Danbatta highlighted the reliance of election data and result transmission on telecom infrastructure.
“If telecom infrastructure is vandalized or damaged, it would create significant challenges in data transmission during the election. Citizens may struggle to communicate, and journalists might face difficulties accessing their platforms to disseminate vital information needed by the public to make informed decisions,” Danbatta said.
He expressed concern over recurrent threats to the telecom sector, including theft of diesel, batteries, and generators from base stations, fiber-optic cable cuts by construction workers, and indiscriminate sealing of Base Transceiver Station (BTS) sites by state governments and other stakeholders.
Danbatta reiterated the broader importance of telecommunications to daily life, noting that the infrastructure supports critical services like banking, insurance, education, and entertainment, as well as enabling seamless communication. He urged citizens and stakeholders to work together to safeguard these national assets, not only for the elections but also for the overall benefit of the country.
The NCC boss called on GOCOP members to use their platforms to create awareness about the need to protect telecom infrastructure. “The support of media professionals is crucial in sensitizing the public to the importance of safeguarding these facilities to ensure the smooth transmission of election data and other essential services,” he said.
