Natcoms Decries Nesrea’s Closure of Glo Base Station

Deolu Ogunbanjo, National President, National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS), has decried the closure of Globacom base station in Plateau state by National Environmental Standards Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and urged government to check to continued encroachment in the regulatory functions of the Nigerian Communications Commision (NCC) by other government agencies.

According to him, ‘It is rather unfortunate that the National Environmental Standards Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) under the leadership of Dr. Ngeri Benebo is over stepping its bounds once again, disturbing the telecoms industry by sealing base stations.

NESREA, recently sealed one of the Globacom's base stations in Dandur, Lantang North Local Government Area of Plateau State for not adhering to its regulations.

The agency said that Globacom had failed to conduct a Site Specific Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) citing the provision of the EIA ACT of 1992, before erecting its facility in the area.

NESREA is also over exploiting the humility of both the minister of Communication Technology and The President and Commander-In-Chief, Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

He added that the Nigerian Communications Commission is the regulatory body by law, charged with the responsibility of regulating Telecommunications & ICT in Nigeria and should be left alone to do its job.

He urged the minister of Communication Technology and the minister of Environment to sort this issue out and leave the telecoms industry alone to concentrate on how to bring about good quality service to telecoms & ICT Subscribers and Consumers.

He noted that telecoms industry is currently suffering from very poor quality services with insurgents destroying masts and base stations; floods and natural disasters affecting some states and now NESREA is closing down base stations with unparalleled impunity.