By Nkechi Eze
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has called for deeper collaboration with Nigeria’s security agencies to tackle criminal activities threatening the country’s telecommunications infrastructure and ensure the continued growth of the sector.
The appeal was made by the Commission’s Executive Vice Chairman, Umar Garba Danbatta, during the North Central Zonal Sensitisation Workshop organised for security agencies in Keffi.
Danbatta emphasised that closer cooperation between the telecommunications regulator and security institutions is essential for protecting critical infrastructure and sustaining the rapid expansion of Nigeria’s telecom industry. According to him, strengthened partnership will enable the Commission to fully harness the enormous potential of telecommunications while maintaining the sector’s steady growth, given its vital role in the country’s social and economic development.
He used the occasion to express appreciation to several security organisations for their continued support in tackling telecom-related crimes. These include the Office of the National Security Adviser, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Customs Service, and the Federal Road Safety Corps, among other agencies involved in national security governance.
The workshop brought together personnel from these organisations and featured a series of technical presentations addressing key enforcement challenges in the telecommunications sector. Discussions focused on topics such as the role of information and communication technology in modern policing, the difficulties associated with prosecuting telecom-related offences, an overview of the NCC’s enforcement regulations, and the Commission’s enforcement powers under the Nigerian Communications Act.
Among the resource persons who contributed to the discussions were Solomon Arase and Paul Usoro. Officials representing the Commission included Efosa Idehen, Head of Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement, who represented the EVC; Dr. Henry Nkemadu, Deputy Director of Research and Development; Helen Obi, Head of Zonal Operations; Salisu Abdu, Head of Enforcement; GT Mohammed, Assistant Director of Legal and Regulatory Services; and Al-Kassim Umar, Head of Compliance Monitoring.
The workshop was marked by active participation and extensive discussions, which the Commission said would contribute significantly to its ongoing efforts to strengthen regulatory operations, enhance stakeholder engagement, and improve the quality of services delivered to telecommunications consumers across the country.
