Community representatives from Kano, Bauchi, and Jigawa states have called for greater involvement of local communities in the protection of telecommunications infrastructure to address recurring cases of vandalism and poor network services.
The call was made at a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) in Dutse on Monday.
Participants at the meeting were drawn from Rano in Kano State; Itas and Jama’are in Bauchi State; and Madobi, Kuda, and Kiyawa communities in Jigawa State.
Speaking at the meeting, the Executive Director of CITAD, Malam Y.Z. Ya’u, said the protection of telecommunications infrastructure should be linked to the protection and development of host communities.
According to him, telecommunications companies should engage communities before deploying infrastructure to ensure that residents understand the purpose and benefits of such facilities.
“Communities need to understand why these facilities are being deployed and the benefits they stand to gain. This kind of engagement is still limited in many parts of the country,” he said.
Ya’u said online complaint mechanisms could help address threats to telecommunications facilities and reduce incidents of vandalism, which often affect network connectivity.
He said findings from research showed that telecommunications infrastructure faced challenges such as fibre cuts, partly because some communities were not adequately sensitised or involved in deployment processes.
“Service providers alone cannot provide complete protection for these facilities. Community participation is necessary if we are to reduce the number of underserved and unserved areas,” he said.
During discussions on community mobilisation for infrastructure protection, participants recommended awareness campaigns targeting youths, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and other stakeholders.
They also called for stronger collaboration between communities and telecommunications companies, the establishment of reporting channels for damage and suspicious activities, and the involvement of local security structures, including vigilante groups and hunters.
Some participants urged telecommunications companies to undertake community development projects in host communities and create employment opportunities for residents.
They also stressed the need to educate women, particularly mothers, on the importance of protecting telecommunications facilities.
According to the participants, some acts of vandalism are carried out by young people who are sometimes shielded from accountability by family members.
They further expressed concern over allegations that some security personnel assigned to telecommunications facilities were involved in the theft of operational materials, including diesel.
To address the challenge, participants recommended improved welfare and remuneration for personnel responsible for safeguarding telecommunications infrastructure.
The meeting also recommended the involvement of communities in planning and consultation processes before infrastructure deployment, as well as training on the safe handling of telecommunications facilities and related materials.