By TECHNOLOGY TIMES Staff
Lagos. June 19, 2013: The National Association of Telecommunications Consumers (NATCOMS) has condemned the shutdown of Globacom base station by the National Environmental Standards Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) in what the advocacy group sees as yet another “disturbing” signal for the telecoms sector.
Deolu Ogunbanjo, National President of NATCOMS says the consumer advocacy group reckons that NESREA is again overstepping its bound by seeking to regulate telecoms companies also noting that the government agency is “on the rampage again.”
Ngeri Benebo, DG of National Environmental Standards Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has come under flaks over allegations of trying to regulate telecoms companies
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and NESREA have also been on collision paths over plans by the environmental agency to regulate the activities of telecoms companies.
“It is rather unfortunate that the National Environmental Standards Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) under the leadership of Dr. Ngeri Benebo is overstepping its bounds once again, disturbing the telecoms industry by sealing base stations”, Ogunbanjo said in a statement made available to TECHNOLOGY TIMES.
According to NATCOMS, NESREA recently sealed up one of the base stations belonging to Globacom in Dandur, Lantang North Local Government Area of Plateau State for allegedly not adhering to its regulations.
According to Ogunbanjo, NESREA alleged 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 Hon. Minister of Communication Technology and The President and Commander-In-Chief, Federal Republic of Nigeria”, Ogunbayo says.
NATCOMS says that NCC is the regulatory body by law, charged with the responsibility of regulating telecoms and ICT in Nigeria, “and should be left alone to do its job.”
The subscriber advocacy group has appealed to Omobola Johnson, the Minister of Communication Technology and her counterpart in the Ministry of Environment, to “please 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.”
Ogunbanjo says that, “the National Legislature should please call Mr. President’s kinswoman to order so as not to heat up the pride of Nigeria’s economy – telecoms.”
According to him, the Nigerian telecoms industry, “is currently suffering from very poor quality services with insurgents destroying masts and base stations; floods and natural disasters affecting some; state of emergency in some states affecting many and now NESREA closing down base stations with unparalleled impunity.”
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