Yemisi Izuora
Exponential rise in Nigerians appetite towards new technology and internet demand which impacts on the environment is driving the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, to review its pact with stakeholders in the electricity industry.
Speaking at an event to mark this year’s World Consumer Right Day, WCRD, Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Of the Commission, Mr. Adeleke Adewolu, described the World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) as one of the most important dates in the NCC’s annual calendar of events.
According to him, It is a day we set aside to celebrate our most important stakeholder group, that is, our Consumers.
He said this year, the Commission is pivoting its celebrations around a theme which allows it to design more environmentally sustainable service models so that it can truly serve its consumer better.
Dwelling on the theme of WCRD 2023, “Empowering Consumers through Clean Energy Transition“. Adewolu, stated that the theme allows the Commission to carefully examine the unintended side-effects of our critical social infrastructure on the environment.
According to him, The Nigerian telecoms industry today boasts of over 226 million voice customers and over 156million internet customers as at 31 January, 2023.
These consumers leverage on communications infrastructure for social interaction, health service, access to education, banking, etc.”
The Executive Commissioner, noted that as consumer volumes and service diversity continue to grow, network operators have to roll-out more infrastructure for coverage in new, mostly rural areas, and for network expansion in already saturated urban markets.
He further added that emerging technologies like 5th Generation (5G) mobile services will also require more infrastructure, adding, “These infrastructure components are mostly powered by fossil fuels to ensure 100% availability.”
He noted that there should be more environmentally conscious means by which the Commission can power network infrastructure and reduce our carbon footprints.
The Commissioner, pointed out that the Telecoms infrastructure have helped to reduce other environment-impacting activities such as travel.
Adewolu, also pointed out that people should be convinced about the safety of electromagnetic emissions and that there is need to find a balance between environmentally-friendly network operations and cheaper services.
He spoke of the urgent need to improve the quality of the environment through network services and grow public consciousness about responsible services using telecoms infrastructure.
