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The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Umar Danbatta, has emphasized the critical role of telecommunications infrastructure in ensuring the success and credibility of the 2023 general elections. Speaking at the 6th Annual Conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) in Lagos, Danbatta urged Nigerians to actively protect telecom infrastructure to support seamless data transmission and communication during the polls.
With the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) planning to transmit election results electronically, Danbatta stressed that the fidelity of telecom systems is vital to maintaining the credibility of the electoral process. “If telecom infrastructure is vandalized or damaged, it would create problems in data transmission during the election. Citizens, journalists, and other stakeholders would face difficulties in accessing the information needed for informed decision-making,” he said.
Danbatta also highlighted the persistent challenges threatening telecom facilities, including theft of power generators and batteries from base stations, vandalism of fibre optic cables by construction workers, and indiscriminate sealing of Base Transceiver Station (BTS) sites by state governments and communities.
He called for collective responsibility, urging every Nigerian to see telecom infrastructure as critical national assets that must be safeguarded. “Telecom infrastructure is essential for various aspects of daily life, from communicating with family and friends to accessing banking, education, and other services that enhance quality of life,” he said.
The NCC boss also urged GOCOP members, many of whom are senior media professionals, to leverage their platforms to raise awareness about the importance of protecting telecom facilities. He commended their role in promoting the benefits of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) through timely and accurate reporting.
The conference, chaired by Dr. Umar Ardo, Founder of the Centre for Alternative Policy Perspectives and Strategy (CAPPS), also had in attendance key personalities such as former Inspector General of Police Solomon Arase and Ford Foundation Regional Director Dr. Chidi Aniagolu-Okoye.
Danbatta’s remarks underscore the critical intersection of technology and governance, as Nigeria looks to telecommunications to enable a transparent and credible electoral process in 2023.
