Press Releases

Fashola Advocates Creation Of Database For Mobile Phone Subscribers

Jun 23, 2009 - Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Tuesday advocated the creation of a database in which all mobile telephone subscribers can become identifiable.

Governor Fashola who spoke during a courtesy visit by the Chief Executive Officer of Etisalat, Mr. Steven Evans at Lagos House, Ikeja added that while the government is evolving policies to ensure that every SIM card owner can be identified, Etisalat as a new entrant should take an innovative lead by establishing a system through which no SIM card is sold without an identity of the name and contact details of the person who owns the SIM being collected in a database.

He added that Telephone networks and World Wide Web (W.W.W) despite its advantages is also prone to be deployed to unsavoury uses, one of which is the issue of anonymous phone calls and text messages to law abiding citizens.

Said he: “The Information gateway now can be a very volatile and dangerous weapon which must be controlled from getting into anonymous hands. We can create a database in which everyone becomes accountable for one another”.

The Governor reiterated that it was based on the understanding of the Government on the need to upgrade equipment, lay cables and erect masts by operators that it put in a regime that sought to control not only the quality of the material that was used in erecting masts but the location as well.

He explained that Government felt that it was important for it as the Town Planning Regulatory Authority to set some standard not only for the safety of the public but for the business efficiency of the operators.

“We felt that if the right location was encouraged, we could have the ultimate impact as well as reducing the cost of business. We also realized that there was an emerging trend where masts were built with hollow pipes which were clearly not the right material to use according to engineering specifications”, the Governor said.

Governor Fashola noted that there is serious safety economic and beneficial issues underlying the cause of regulating the erection of masts, promising that the State Government would continue to agitate the clear merit of its cause until it gets a favourable judicial pronouncement.

“Our intentions were clearly misunderstood as some PTOs took us to court and restrained us from the implementation of the policy. The laying of cables is still within Planning Laws which will not be subject to any judicial dispute which obliged you to apply to us before laying cables or cutting roads”, Governor Fashola said.

He urged the operators to collaborate with the Government to ensure that the standard that is left when cut roads are back filled is maintained if not improved upon.

Said he: “We try to discourage road cutting during the rainy season. We advise that much of the work is done during the dry season. Traffic is more involving during rainy season due to reasons like wiper defects and breakdowns”.

“You can work with us by sending advance notice of your intentions so that when planning we can work during dry weather with minimal disruptions of public works. There are some roads where we have provided ducts, but people still cut them. You should know that every dug up road is paid for by all”, Governor Fashola added.

While identifying with the proposal of the communication outfit to set up a facility that would provide opportunities for job, he said it would complement the Government’s initiative and responsibility to create opportunities for young people to get employment.

He asserted that the economy will be better driven by the private sector capacity and investment, adding that government owes a responsibility to provide the fuel that fires that engine of growth in terms of policies.

Speaking earlier, the CEO of Etisalat, Mr. Steven Evans said the organization intends to invest heavily in Lagos.

He added that as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility, Etisalat has adopted three schools and will be awarding 300 scholarships to Nigerian University undergraduates to the tune of N100,000.00 each.

He added that the organization is one which aims to act as a catalyst for improving services generally by taking leadership through the quality of its services.

Also present at the event were the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, some members of the State Executive Council and members of the management team of Etisalat.