By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has shut down the main switch centre of Globacom Limited at Wuse 2, Abuja over non-payment of outstanding debt of N4.7 billion.
This exercise was carried out by the Director-General of the authority, Mr Musa Nuhu, on Wednesday, who said the action was done under the supervision of the Minister of Aviation, Mr Hadi Sirika.
According to the NCAA DG, the locking up of the tower that the facility is housed in would remain switched off until outstanding debt was paid.
He said the company had paid only N500 million (less than 10 per cent) out of the N5.2 billion it was owing, pointing out that the outstanding debt was N4.7 billion.
According to him, all the other telecommunications service providers are paying except the Mike Adenuga owned company, which has failed to meet up its obligation since 2007.
”My agency is under tremendous pressure by the Federal Government of Nigeria and we will do our best within the power vested on us to make sure the debt is settled.
“The action we took is for the safety of aviation in Nigeria. As a matter of fact, for any masts after a certain height, we are supposed to regulate it to ensure that it is properly covered.
“We do fly aircraft, we do flight helicopters, and it could be drone among others things we fly. Not necessary for a regular passenger flight. Police, PHCN and all those people; they do patrol all over the country.
“I am sure, you have seen their helicopters, that is why it is important for us to ensure we have all these in the road map and put them in action,” he said.
Mr Nuhu said it was the regulation of the NCAA that whoever erected the masts would pay for the process that would be carried out by the NCAA.
According to the director-general, 15 letters have been sent to Globacom in the past without any tangible reply since his assumed office with the only form of acknowledgement being the payment of the N500 million.
”Of recent, when I came, then we sat down we have been speaking silently.
“They have paid some money but they still have almost N4.7 billion debt remaining. None of the communication services providers has that amount due for payment.
“That started in 2007. We don’t like shutting down things but we have to take this drastic action because we are having financial issues and we have pressures from different sectors of government, “ he said.
Mr Nuhu listed sectors of government pressuring NCAA to include; Committees from the National Assembly, the Federal Ministry of Aviation as the supervising ministry, Agencies such as the Fiscal Revenue Commission, and Auditor General Office of the Federation and Accountant General Office of the Federation.
Aduragbemi Omiyale