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NCC begins clampdown on errant Internet Service Providers

By on September 25, 2015

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Tuesday in Ibadan commenced clamp down on delinquent internet service providers in the city.

Mostly affected are those defaulting in regularising their operational licenses and those who failed to remit one percent of their annual turnover to the commission.

The hammer of the commission fell on the Skannet General Data Engineering located at Kongi, Bodija, Ibadan. The company was sealed off for its failure to obtain its operational license since commencing operation in 2005.

Apart from the several invitations and letters extended to its Managing Director to regularise its operations in line with the laid down rules, procedures and laws governing such, the NCC officials said the owner has always turned a deaf ear to the commission.

Irked by the indifference of Skannet General Data Engineering services, the NCC team, led by Mr. Banji Ojo, the Zonal Controller, Ibadan Zonal Office said the commission was left with no other option than to seal up the place.

Specifically, Ojo told journalists  that the company was sealed for running Internet Service Provision (ISP) in the last 10 years without a regularized operating licence and other levies worth five million naira(N5m).

“This company has failed to regularise its operating licence which expired in 2005. We have been monitoring them and even met with them on several occasions on this issue but they refuse to comply.

The last time their Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Sunday Folayan
attended one of our meeting in Abuja, he promised to comply and pay installmentally, which he has refused to do,’’ he said.

He said that the implication of the seal up was that the firm could not be opened until it complied fully with the rules and regulations of operating such ISP.

Ojo said that the NCC, which had provided opportunities for businesses to thrive, was not interested in shutting down businesses but absolute compliance with the rules.

He warned other erring companies to always comply with the rules of their existence and operations, saying violators would be prosecuted.

Responding to the allegations, Miss Olaide Latinwo, the Manager of the company told newsmen that the allegations was shocking and questioning why the NCC had failed to enforce compliance in the last 10 years.

“We received with mixed feelings the allegations that our company has not been law abiding. I believe if truly this is so, the NCC ought to have enforced compliance within the long period,’’ she said.

Latinwo, who said that she joined the organisation a year and half ago, said her boss would be in the best position to
answer all questions.

All the staff of the firms were ordered out of the office as the stern looking police officers assisted the commission officials to seal the building.

 

[ThisDay]