NCC Frowns, Lists Dangers of Sealing Base Stations

Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) has expressed displeasure at the incessant closure of telecommunication Base Transceiver Station (BTS) sites across the country by various agencies of the federal, state and local governments, warning that no government agency has the right to seal  any BTS, highly regarded as Critical National Infrastructure, without permission by a competent court of law.

Mr. Tony Ojobo, director, Public Affairs at NCC, the Commission pointed out said that shutting base stations of various telecom operators truncates smooth operations by the affected service providers, especially when the agencies have not been permitted by any court to embark on the clampdown.

Ojobo, said, “The attention of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) has been drawn to the incessant closure of telecommunication Base Transceiver Station (BTS) sites across the country by various agencies of the Federal, State and Local Governments.

“While the Commission encourages its licensees to fulfill their obligations with respect to the payment of all legitimate taxes and procurement of relevant permits, it is however, disturbed by the indiscriminate closure of telecom facilities without exhausting available dispute resolution mechanisms.

“It is a fact that telecommunication infrastructure are considered Critical National Assets, hence, the action of sealing any BTS sites has sever security implications, especially owing to the prevalent security challenges being experienced in the country today.

“In addition, the sealing of BTS sites portends grave consequences on the already constrained Quality of Service (QoS).

“No individual or agency of government has the powers to seal any public infrastructure except with the pronouncement of a court of competent jurisdiction”.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) being the sole body responsible of the telecommunications industry in Nigeria, he said, frowns at the action of any BTS site and would like to use this medium to emphasize on the need for all stakeholders to desist from this act.   

In 2012 alone, the National Environmental Standards and Regulatory Enforcement Agency (NESREA) sealed over 50 telecom masts nationwide.

In 2013, both Glo and Visafone base stations were sealed by NESEREA at various locations.

This year, Enugu State Government pounced on MTN, even as Edo State, Osun and Lagos have threatened to hand similar punishments to telecom operators for reasons ranging from environmental nuisance, non-remittance of taxes and use of inadequate equipment.