The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has appealed to telecommunication consumers  to join hands with major players in the industry to protect its infrastructure in the country.

The Commission said  there was need to protect infrastructure in the sector against vandalization and thefts, noting that consumers who are the end users of the services should  complement the Commission’s efforts to curb such menace.

The NCC made the appeal at a sensitisation programme for residents in Sabon-Wuse under Tafa Local Government Area of Niger state, NorthCentral, Nigeria.

Addressing residence at the event, the Director, Zonal Operations, NCC, Mrs Amina Shehu, frowned at  the problem of vandalism caused to telecom infrastructure which often resulted in poor quality of service to the consumer.

Shehu, who was represented by the Assistant Director, Zonal Operations, NCC, Mr Abubakar Usman, urged the residents to ensure that they protected telecom facilities in their community.

She said it was imperative for the public to regard telecom facilities as collectively owned infrastructure.

Shehu added that they were crucial and essential for the provision of efficient and acceptable telecom services and, therefore, needed to be keenly protected.

She emphasised the centrality of telecommunications sector to the economy and also informed that telecom in the last 15 years was a major contributor to the nation’s economic growth and development.

According to her”Some challenges in the industry arise from some misconceptions and misguided facts about key telecom infrastructure such as Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) among others.

This has been targets of vandalism, theft and hostility from some host communities,” she said.

On the issue of misinformation about Electromagnetic Frequency (EMF) radiation emanating from telecommunications infrastructure, she said it was not harmful

Shehu said this was according to “studies conducted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Commission for Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP)”

She stated that the event was to correct the misconception people had on the effect of radio magnetic waves on human health.

The Director stressed the need for collaboration among relevant stakeholders and the healthy enabling environment provided by Federal Government in the sector.

Shehu also informed them about facilities provided by the Commission, which could be used to improve telecom experience and quality of life in general.

They include the NCC Toll-free Number (622); the 112 National Emergency Number; and the Do-Not-Disturb (DND) 2442 short code for managing cases of unsolicited text messages, amongst others.

Participants were also enlightened on the illegality of pre-registered Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards, the importance of proper SIM registration and National Identification Number, NIN-SIM, linkage exercise.

“ According to her, “”The Commission is saying again to you that there is no scientific evidence yet that shows radiation from telecom masts constitute health hazards to human.

“We want you to help spread this information to those that are not here,”

Meanwhile, the Traditional Head, Sabon-Wuse, Alhaji Adamu Bako, appreciated the Commission for bringing the sensitisation programme to the community to educate the consumers on consumer-related issues as well as correcting wrong notions and clarifying misconceptions.