The Federal Government has commissioned the first-ever Mobile Radio Frequency Monitoring Equipment, National Spectrum Management System, Denial of Service (DOS) Equipment and a National Control Centre, in Abuja.

The Minister of Communications, Dr. Adebayo Shittu, who commissioned the devices yesterday at the Shehu Musa Yar’dua’s Centre, described the development as historic and necessary, particularly when viewed against the background that the Ministry is the Secretariat of the National Frequency Management Council (NFMC).

Dr. Shittu who expressed joy on the successful delivery of the equipment, explained that it is a pioneer project of the current administration and the first of its kind after several attempts and efforts by past administrations to get funding for the project proved abortive.

“With these facilities in place, the Ministry now has the capacity to detect, identify and locate the sources of transmissions and is, therefore, able to determine if a frequency user is duly licensed or not.

“In addition, the use of the state-of-the-art equipment would enable the Ministry to ensure that duly licensed users of radio frequency spectrum operate in compliance with technical specifications,” the Minister maintained.

He disclosed that the Ministry had in March 2017 secured the Federal Executive Council’s (FEC) approval to award a contract for the project to Messrs TCI International Inc., USA at the cost of $9.085million for the supply, installation, and commissioning of the sophisticated world class monitoring devices.

The devices include five state-of-the-art Mobile Radio Monitoring Equipment, a National Spectrum Management System, two Denial of Service (DoS) equipment and the establishment of a National Control Centre.

In his words: “Radio Frequency Spectrum is a very important and scarce resource that supports and drives the multi-billion dollar wireless telecommunications and ICT industry globally, hence, must be managed well for its efficient, judicious and equitable use by various radio communication services to drive the socio-economic development of our country”, he stated.

The Minister said that each of the five monitoring vehicles would now be deployed to each of the Monitoring Centers in Gusau, Zamfara state to cover the North West; Ipaja, Lagos to cover the South West; and Ogoja, Cross River State to cover states in the South-South while each of the two Denial of Service equipment would be deployed to Abuja and Lagos to serve the North Central and Southern States respectively.

He urged all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and private individuals and organizations that use the frequency spectrum to first obtain authorization from the Ministry of communications before procuring and operating any radio communications equipment.

Dr. Shittu warned that all operators of unauthorized frequency spectrum should formalize their operational status to avert appropriate sanctions.

He added that the ministry has incorporated other components which are aimed to guarantee the durability of the equipment having trained 29 engineers, technologists, and other professionals to effectively Mann the facilities.

The manufacturers, according to him, have given six year warrantee for the equipment to serve without any defect with the company taking care of maintenance and management of the facilities without demanding a dime from the Federal Government.

In her address at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Nkechi Ejele, said that the project was born out of a dire need of the Ministry of Communications to show exemplary leadership in the promotion and development of the telecommunications and ICT industry in Nigeria.

Mrs Ejele added that the devices would proffer requisite infrastructure, skills, technical competence and capacity to aid the Ministry in policy formulation for effective management of the natural but scarce frequency spectrum resource, to curb its irregular and illegal usage.

Earlier, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonishakin, who was represented by Maj. Gen. JA Orokpo, described the project as a noble idea, noting that the project has the capacity to play a great role for the Nigerian armed forces in dealing with the terror activities of Boko Haram in the North Eastern Nigeria.

•Photo shows Minister of Communications, Dr. Adebayo Shittu, cutting the tape to commission the Mobile Radio Frequency Monitory Equipment, National Spectrum Management System, Denial of Service (DOS) Equipment and a National Control Centre, in Abuja.

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