That Natcoms’ Call for Capital Punishment for Vandals of Telecom Infrastructure

The recent call by National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (Natcoms) for a law that would make vandalism of telecommunication facilities a capital offence is inherently wrong, and can never be justified.

No doubt, the growing targeted attacks on telecom equipment, infrastructure and telecom workers are causing headaches for everybody – the regulator, operators and subscribers.

Vandalism is a clear and present danger hampering the provision of quality services to the over 110 million subscribers in the country.

Such disruptions not only disconnect subscribers, but also cause embarrassment to businesses and national security.
It also has ripple effect on the economy, including; reduced investment, job losses and reduced taxable income.

In absence of official figures, this senseless crime is believed to be costing the industry billions of naira annually.

The persistent vandalization of telecom infrastructure is a mirror of the country as whole from north to south and from east to west.

The country is simply under the siege of growing army of criminals and the numbers of people who are dying in their hands are higher than some countries hit by natural disasters or civil wars.

We share the frustrations of Natcoms, the umbrella body of telecom consumers in the country whose members are being denied superior service because of the activities of vandals.

Particularly, we note the patriotism and zeal of Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, the association’s president, who is visibly piqued by the persistent sabotage of telecom infrastructure.

But Nigeria must not use death penalty as a form of punishment for the vandals.

It is morally wrong, often compromised and inequitable.

The imposition of the death penalty is inconsistent with fundamental values of the so-called Nigeria democratic system.

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek which has been in the fore front of the campaign for the protection of telecommunications equipment believes it is time to consider a different approach.

We believe that education is the key.

It has been proven that most vandals do not have clear motives for their acts.

It is therefore important to raise awareness on the critical nature of the infrastructure and begin to change Nigerians mindsets.

The aim is to make Nigerians see ICT infrastructure as a national resource which must be protected just like railway and electricity infrastructure.

The industry on its part must rally behind efforts to get government to declare ICT equipment, critical national infrastructure that must be protected by law.

We are happy that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has begun moves for a bill in the national assembly to underpin the importance of industry’s infrastructure.

We therefore urge the national assembly to view this bill with all the seriousness it deserves because ICT infrastructures are like the central nervous system of communications.

Government should also beef up security around telecommunication infrastructure nationwide to prevent vandals from destroying critical economic infrastructure.