ALTON reiterates calls to classify telecom, critical national infrastructure

Gbenga Adebayo, ALTON chairman

*Task FG, NAS on security

Arising from an emergency meeting over the weekend, concerning the unprecedented attacks on some telecommunications Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) and other infrastructure in Northern part of the country, the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), has reiterated its calls to classify telecom infrastructure as critical and deserves national protection.

Chairman, ALTON, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, regretted the attack which paralysed telecommunications services in the early hours of the September 5 through 8, 2012, resulting in severe service disruptions in the areas primarily affected.   

Stressing, the impacts of the attacks have been felt in other parts of the country particularly in areas of the North and have limited the ability of millions of Nigerian subscribers to access telecommunications services.

ALTON also noted that these unfortunate incidents were against the common good of all citizens of Nigeria, as its members and millions of Nigerians affected, have suffered severe difficulties with communication, financial and other losses as a result of the attacks.

ALTON made up of major telecommunication companies, resolved after the meeting to ensure that they deliver and sustain the best quality of service under the present circumstances to their subscribers nationwide.

He, however, re-iterated the association’s call on the Federal Government to declare, all Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), telecommunications facilities and infrastructure as a critical national security infrastructure, with immediate effect.

“It is imperative for the Federal Government to provide the necessary protection to such facilities in the national interest. The infrastructure built and owned by the telecommunications industry is the springboard to an ICT revolution in Nigeria and they are essential for Nigeria’s socio-economic advancement” he declared.

Explicitly, ALTON called on the National Assembly to pass into law relevant Legislation to assure the protection of ICT and telecommunications infrastructure across the country as a matter of urgency.   

Adebayo noted that ‘This will ensure the appropriate legal framework for infrastructure protection and thereby ensure that growth and development objectives which leverage on the seamless availability of telecommunications infrastructure are more efficiently achieved’. 

Adebayo, on behalf of the association thanked the Inspector General of Police, the security and intelligence, Nigerian Communications Commission and other stakeholders for the support received since the attacks commenced.

Further, he expressed thanks to the host communities whose vigilance and support have prevented further attacks to infrastructure within their communities.

“We assure all telecom subscribers that our members will continue to do all within their means to restore services to the affected areas at the earliest possible time, and we thank our subscribers for their understanding,” he said.

 

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