By Prince Osuagwu
Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Idris Olorunnimbe, recently told a hilarious but very symbolic story of how Nigerians of all ages are getting frustrated on a daily basis over the poor Internet connectivity in the country.
At the doorstep of this national calamity is the Telecom operators who Olorunnimbe ‘s NCC regulates.
So, a cry to the board Chair of this regulator is not out of place. And, that is exactly what his 9-year-old daughter did, on behalf of the whole country.
Olorunnimbe recalled that a few days after his appointment as the NCC Board Chairman, his last daughter, aged 9, barged into his room one morning with a frustrating look that was unusual, gazed at him for a few seconds and hurled out the words: “Mr NCC Chairman, the Internet is not working!”
To imagine that due to connectivity problems, a 9-year old who usually jumps on his father every morning with joy to greet and wish him a brighter day, skipped niceties, is to express the extent Nigerians have waited in vain for their internets to work at the touch of the button.
To add to the frustration is that they pay so much for bandwidths that will vanish like the air before even the connection hits their mobile phones.
The complaints are rife. The hues and cries are deafening, but the actions are scarce.
So, who else, if not the chairman, bears the brunt, if he has an internet savvy 9-year-old?
Ironically, he told the story on a day the telcos came to reel out their own frustrations and warn that if things don’t change, many other services may join the poor Internet connectivity.
Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria, ALTON, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, who led the delegation laid more emphasis on the alleged indiscriminate way state contractors damaged over 540 kilometers of the fibre backbone cables which enable ubiquitous internet services. He described it as a major factor affecting network reliability
According to him, contractors often begin federal or state road projects without notifying operators, despite telecom companies having paid Right-of-Way fees.
He said: “The irony is that the government grants us Right-of-Way, collects the fees, but when construction contracts are awarded on those same roads, we are not informed; and when damages occur, it is treated as business as usual.
“The 540-kilometre fibre backbone we talk about is not just cable in the ground, it is a communications superhighway. When it is cut, it is like destroying a bridge that connects entire regions. Banking systems are affected. Schools and hospitals among others, are also affected.
“For too long, there have been little or no consequences. When there are no consequences, the tendency to repeat the offence increases. The principle ought to be as simple as: if you destroy it, you must fix it, but that’s never the case” Adebayo added.
Interestingly, after listening to Adebayo’s complaints, Olorunnimbe admitted that the telecom sector still suffers structural vulnerabilities.
“Two years ago, industry sustainability was under serious strain. Some decisive actions were taken which brought a bit of stabilization, but I agree that the stabilization must be protected. Telecom infrastructure is no longer optional infrastructure.
“If networks go down, everything stops. Commerce pauses. Communication halts. Education suffers. Healthcare systems struggle. That is why accountability must be non-negotiable. We are going to ensure that if a contractor damages telecom infrastructure, work must stop and repairs must be made before proceeding,” he said.
He also promised that his Commission would escalate enforcement discussions with sub-national governments and the presidency to ensure that Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) protections translate into practical safeguards.
“Critical National Infrastructure must not remain a title on paper, it must translate into protection, into enforcement, and into consequences. Where infrastructure is damaged negligently or deliberately, responsibility must be fixed clearly and swiftly,” he added.
Although these promises look so reassuring, the reality is that the cry for robust internet services still persists. People still complain about whatsapp calls that never get completed due to poor internet services, depleted mobile data which leaves holes in the pockets of users and freezing contents on YouTube because, like the 9-year- old girl rightly observed, Internet is not working!
The post “Mr NCC Chairman, Internet is not working!!” appeared first on Vanguard News.
