Business
Association Urges Community Leaders To Protect Telecoms Masts
The National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS) appealed to community leaders to protect telecom masts against vandalism.
The NATCOMS President, Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo made the appeal in an interview with journalists in Lagos.
He said such assistance would reduce the frequent vandalism of the equipment.
Ogunbanjo said vandalism of telecom facility would deny people in the affected communities access to telecommunication services.
“I want to believe no community will allow vandals to damage the masts thereby causing disruption of telecom services to occur in their vicinity.
“Hence, community leaders should assist telecom operators to protect the masts since they know better how to tackle such menace,” he said.
Ogunbanjo urged the operators to solicit the support of community leaders and traditional rulers to ensure adequate protection of the facilities, especially in violence-prone areas.
The NATCOMS chief said the activities of vandals had negatively affected economic activities of people who depended on telecom services for their livelihood.
He warned that frequent vandalism of telecom facilities could worsen the poor service currently being experienced in the industry.
The NATCOMS official said the disruption of services would not only disconnect subscribers, but would also paralyse businesses and threaten national security.
“Damage to telecom facilities will throw many people out of job as less recharge cards will be sold, Internet cafes will be out of business, while security and emergencies will be affected.
“This will bring economic problems to those in these violence prone areas,” he said.
Ogunbanjo called for enactment of a law that would make vandalism of telecommunication facilities a capital offence.
He said the law became necessary to prevent vandals from sabotaging telecommunication infrastructure and frustrating efforts of operators in providing quality services.
The NATCOMS chief said government should also declare telecommunication facilities as critical national infrastructure due to their importance.
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.
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