Federal lawmakers and telecom operators engaged in a tense exchange on Tuesday, April 29, over the role of telecom companies in addressing the surge in kidnappings and other phone-related crimes across Nigeria.
During the opening of a two-day colloquium on the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, held at Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja, Lagos, lawmakers criticised telecom operators for what they described as a failure to track criminals who use phones to demand ransom.
The event, themed “22 Years After: Reassessing the Nigerian Communications Act – Challenges, Opportunities, and Future Directions for a Digital Nigeria,” drew key industry players and lawmakers alike.
Leading the charge was Ben Etanabene, representing Okpe, Sapele, and Uvwie federal constituency in Delta State. He questioned the effectiveness of SIM registration policies in curbing crime.
“Every part of this country, kidnappers are on the rampage, kidnapping and making demands for ransom. Why are the telecom operators not tracking and helping in arresting them before they wreak havoc?” he asked.
Etanabene, himself a kidnapping victim in the past, further criticised the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and telecom firms for not deploying geo-location services to stop criminals, saying other countries use technology to tackle similar threats.
His position was backed by Ayodele Festus, who represents Ile-Oluji in Ondo State. He said network quality was poor and accused the telcos of prioritising profit.
“Millions of subscribers are deeply frustrated,” Festus claimed. “You hardly finish a call without it dropping at least five times.”
Lagos Mainland Representative Moshood Olawale alleged collusion between the NCC and telecom providers, saying it could explain rising tariffs despite consumer dissatisfaction.
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Responding to the accusations, Chairman of the Association of Licenced Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, defended the industry’s role and cautioned lawmakers against misplaced expectations.
“In the first instance, we are clearly telecom services providers and do not have the mandate to run around arresting criminals,” he said.
“Again, kidnappers usually don’t use their own numbers to call families of their kidnapped victims for ransom. Rather, they use the phone of the kidnapped, while moving from one point to another.
“Then, also remember that there is a privacy law, which gives every subscriber right to privacy until there is a lawful reason to intercept their conversations.
“The worst is that the security agencies have not come to ask for geo-location of event and we refused giving it out. At least, there is Law of Lawful Interception, which gives them right in that regard.”
MTN Nigeria’s Corporate Services Executive, Tobechukwu Okigbo, also addressed lawmakers, saying Nigeria’s telecom tariffs remain among the lowest in Africa.
He urged the National Assembly to focus on legislation that would protect telecom infrastructure from vandalism, fibre cuts, and theft, which he said severely hamper service quality.
Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, dismissed claims of collusion with the telcos, but emphasised the need for cooperation between the Commission and service providers to enhance service delivery.
The sharp exchanges underscored growing public frustration over insecurity and the need for clearer roles in the country’s fight against technology-enabled crimes.