Senate Slams NCC For Defending Telecom Firms  

The  Nigerian Senate and the Minister of Works , Babatunde Fashola descended  heavily on  the National Communication Commission  (NCC)  for shielding the telecom operators  over increasing cases of dropped calls which has robbed Nigerians billions of naira.
The attacks came during  the public hearing on a motion titled: Increasing rate of drop calls and other unwholesome practices by telecom networks operators in Nigeria that have robbed Nigerians of their hard earned monies.
Senator Bamidele Opeyemi, and the minister could not hold their temper when the NCC Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity, Engr. B. Wakil, accused the federal  and state governments of over taxation of the telecoms operators  and the ministry of power of engaging contractors who cut the operators cables resulting to dropped calls.
Wakili  said  the  the telecoms service providers have become victims of multiple taxation by states and federal governments.
He further blamed the state and federal government for the high cost of right of ways, saying that in some states, it is five thousand per meter, while it can be higher in some others.
The NCC Director cited cases of cutting of cables and vandalisation of telecoms installations by criminals due to insecurity, adding that with the overstretched subscribers base, it is not easy for telecom service providers to provide the required capacity of infrastructure to adequately cover the country.