Group Alerts On Vandalisation Of Telecoms Facilities

The National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers
(NATCOMS) on Thursday warned that the frequent vandalism of telecoms facilities
could result into job losses.

Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, NATCOMS President, told The Tide in
Lagos that activities of vandals were adversely affecting economic activities
of people who depended on telecoms services for their livelihood.

The NATCOMS president said that the disruption of services
did not only disconnect subscribers, but also paralysed businesses and national
security.

“Damage to telecoms 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.

The NATCOMS boss called for a law that would make vandalism
of telecommunication facilities a capital offence.

He said that the law became necessary to prevent vandals
from sabotaging telecommunication infrastructure and frustrating efforts of
operators in providing quality services.

Ogunbanjo said government should also declare
telecommunication facilities as critical national infrastructure due to their
importance.

“Vandalism of critical telecommunication infrastructure has
ripple effects on the economy, including job losses and reduced tax income,”
Ogunbanjo said.

He called on the government to beef up security around
telecommunication infrastructure nationwide to prevent agents of economic
sabotage from destroying critical economic infrastructure.

The NATCOMS president also urged the National Assembly to
expedite the passage of the Cybercrime Bill before it.