NAMA, “Terror” Threatening QoS-NATCOMS

National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS) has accused Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) of terrorizing the telecom industry with NAMA’s recent ultimatum to owners of telecoms masts at several locations across Nigeria to dismantle them or face sanctions.

NATCOMS said that the move may worsen quality of service provisioning already plagued by a number of challenges.

“Currently the telecoms industry is suffering and witnessing several mast closures, vandalisation by insurgents, declaration of state of emergency in some states and threats of closures by some Federal and state government agencies leading to very serious threats to good quality service” Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, national president, NATCOMS said.

NAMA had earlier in the week directed mast owners to remove them in a bid to enhance air safety in the country.

Supo Atobatele, general manager, Public Affairs, NAMA, said the directive became imperative following the inherent danger posed by such structures to air navigation in the country.

 “Consequently, the agency has engaged the services of Seas Electrical and Computer Services Ltd to effect the dismantling of affected masts at the expiration of the ultimatum” Atobatele said.

NAMA mandated Seas Electrical and Computer Services Ltd to not only identify and report, but also to reduce the height or dismantle the masts as applicable citing NAMA Act Section 7(1) c and d of its Establishment Act No.48 of 1999.

But NATCOMS cautioned the agency adding that “Hitherto, telecoms operators in Nigeria, in erecting masts around our airports, are given approvals by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

If the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) now suddenly wakes up to discharge their responsibility of enhancing air safety in Nigeria, it should do so with decorum, due diligence, due process and wide consultation.”  Ogunbanjo stated.
According to Ogunbanjo, NAMA, as a federal government agency should consult with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and telecoms operators to harmonize their various interests and positions rather than the current ‘terror’ approach being undertaken.

He said that “currently the telecoms industry is suffering and witnessing several mast closures, vandalisation by insurgents, declaration of state of emergency in some states and threats of closures by some Federal and State Government Agencies leading to very serious threats to good quality service”

“Federal and state government agencies like NESREA, NAMA, UFRU, ENTRACCO, e.t.c must embrace decorum, due-diligence, due-process and consultations among themselves and the organized telecoms industry players before sanctions, penalties and attacks” he added