BY DAVID ADUGE-ANI
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, has charged telecommunications operators and tower owners to renew their commitment to the protection of their masts and installations across the FCT.
NSCDC-FCT Commandant, Dr. Olusola Odumosu, gave the charge during a meeting with telecom stakeholders in Abuja, where he decried the nonchalant attitude of some mast owners toward the security and protection of their multi-million-naira investments, making them prone to vandalism.
The meeting, held at the instance of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), was aimed at curtailing the recurring incidents of vandalism of masts and towers across the country.
Odumosu emphasized the importance of the telecom sector to the socio-economic growth of the nation, adding that any act of sabotage or vandalism must be condemned and prevented.
“The Corps is concerned because vandalism of these critical national assets and infrastructure would have serious consequences for the entire country. Therefore, protection of these facilities must be taken seriously,” Odumosu stated.
He revealed that many of the sites visited during routine patrols by the Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI) Department were unguarded, lacking both security presence and CCTV cameras. He advised stakeholders to strengthen their site security to prevent unhindered access by vandals and miscreants.
In a statement by the acting Public Relations Officer of the Command, DSC Monica Ojobi, Odumosu insisted that operators must engage the services of licensed private security companies in the FCT to provide physical security at their sites, as well as share credible intelligence that would help apprehend vandals.
He also directed operators to provide the Corps with relevant information about the sites and locations of their masts and towers to enable 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 of relevant information about your sites and locations so we can protect them. We cannot protect facilities we don’t know exist,” he said.
Odumosu further stressed the importance of installing CCTV cameras as a key tool in combating vandalism and theft, warning that going forward, all reports of infractions at base transmission stations (BTS) must be accompanied by CCTV footage.
The stakeholders, in their response, thanked the Commandant for convening the meeting and pledged to work closely with the Corps to improve the security of telecom facilities within the FCT.