Senate calls for review of Nigeria Communications Act 2003
The Senate Committee on Communications has called for the review of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, so as to conform with the ever-dynamic communication sphere.
A member of the committee, Sen. Abiodun Olujimi made the call during an interview with newsmen on Friday in Lagos.
Olujimi, a former Commissioner of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said that Act should be reviewed to address some issues that have changed.
She said when the Act was enacted it was not envisaged that the country would attain 21 per cent broadband penetration.
”Definitely, the system has been dynamic. When the Act came into force, most of the things happening now were not envisaged.
”We did not believe we could have 140 million active lines. So definitely, problems will arise with such gigantic development,” Olujimi said.
The senator said that there was the need to look at the Act again, especially as it affects cyber crimes.
She said that everybody now had access to broadband and the crimes that were committed on the internet were beyond it.
”I am sure I have more than than 20 Facebook accounts, and I am not on Facebook. These are issues that came up with deeper penetration of broadband, ICT and communication.
”The Act must be reviewed, so we can ensure that the ability for people to commit crimes through ICT is curbed and communication is made better,” Olujimi said.
The Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on Communications, Sen. Ademola Adeleke said that the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 still had leakages that needed to be looked into.
Adeleke said that the Act needed to be upgraded, so as to improve on the country’s communication.
”Communication is all about growth and it extends even to agriculture, health and other areas. Without communication, our country cannot grow, so we need to do what we have to do to make it grow,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the primary objective of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 is to create and provide a regulatory framework for the Nigerian communications industry. (NAN)
