FCT : NSCDC Charges Telecommunications Operators To Protect Installations

The FCT Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr Olusola Odumosu  has charged Telecommunications operators and tower owners to renew their commitment to the protection of their masts and towers installations in the FCT.

Odumosu, gave the charge during a meeting with telecom stakeholders at the FCT Command headquarters, Abuja, where he decried the non challant attitude of some mast owners to the security and protection of their multi million naira investment, which made them prone to vandalism.

The meeting was held at the instance of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to curtail the recurring incidents of vandalism of masts and towers across the country.

Odumosu emphasised the importance of the telecom sector to the socio-economic growth of the country, and to this end, any act of sabotage or vandalism must be condemned and should not be allowed to fester.

“The Corps is concerned because vandalism of these critical national assets and infrastructure would have serious consequences on the entire country. Therefore, protection of these facilities must be taken seriously,” Odumosu stated.

He hinted that many of the sites visited during the routine patrol of the CNAI department were unguarded and without any security presence or CCTV cameras, and advised them to improve on it to prevent unhindered access by vandals and miscreants.

He insisted that the operators must engage the services of licensed private guard companies in the FCT to provide physical security at the sites, as well as share credible intelligence that would assist in apprehending vandals.

He directed the operators to avail the Corps relevant information about sites and locations of their masts and towers to enable the command to conduct constant patrol and surveillance around the facilities.

“As the lead agency in the protection of CNAI, we are committed to providing 24-hour surveillance and patrol around your facilities.”

“Make sure you avail us relevant information about your sites and locations to enable us to protect them. We can not protect the facilities that we dont know exists,” he said.

He echoed the directive on the installation of CCTV cameras as a tool to fight vandalism and theft because, going forward, all reports of infractions at BTS sites must be accompanied by relevant CCTV footages

On their part, the stakeholders thanked the Commandant for convening the meeting and promised to work closely with the Corps in improving security around telecom facilities in the FCT.

PR/Nkiru Njemanze