Telecoms operators demand stiffer penalties for vandals

The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) on Friday called for stiffer penalties for vandals wreaking havoc in the industry.

The ALTON Chairman, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, made the call at the seventh edition of the Policy Implementation Assisted Forum (PIAFo) Summit in Lagos.

He said: “The malicious individuals had been disrupting and stealing from these critical infrastructure hubs, compromising the nation’s communication networks.

“Any vandal tempering with the telecommunications infrastructure should be prosecuted and awarded a jail term.

“In England, if you crash into a telecommunications pole while driving, the state prosecutes the offender, not the telecoms provider.

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“This highlights the seriousness of damaging public infrastructure, which can result in significant penalties, including imprisonment.”

The ALTON boss called for a similar approach to protect Nigeria’s Critical National Infrastructure (CNI).

On his part, the President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Tony Emoekpere, called for a national plan for the protection of critical infrastructure in the sector.

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