Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has raised an alarm that members of the business community have drawn it’s attention to the rising incidents of vandalism of telecommunications infrastructure across Nigeria.
Dr. Chinyere Almona, director general of LCCI, who stated this in Lagos recently, said that the increasing infrastructure vandalism was posing a serious threat to economic productivity, national security, digital inclusion, and investor confidence.
According to her, “our members have drawn our attention to the rising incidents of vandalism of telecommunications infrastructure across Nigeria. This trend is a serious threat to economic productivity, national security, digital inclusion, and investor confidence.
“Telecommunications infrastructure remains critical to modern economic activity, supporting banking services, e-commerce, education, healthcare, logistics, public administration, and millions of small businesses.
Persistent attacks on fiber-optic cables, base stations, power systems, and related assets disrupt essential services, increase service providers’ operating costs, and reduce service quality for consumers and businesses.”
Speaking further, Dr. Almona explained that “to address this challenge, the chamber urges governments at all levels to treat telecommunications infrastructure as critical national assets that require stronger protection.
“This should include enhanced security surveillance, stricter enforcement of laws against vandalism, faster prosecution of offenders, and closer collaboration between security agencies, regulators, communities, and network operators.”
She added: “The Chamber also calls for improved rightof-way management, better coordination during road construction and urban works, and stronger public awareness campaigns on the economic damage caused by vandalism.”
