FEC approves N653.8m to monitor frequency spectrum in south-east

The federal government has approved N653.8 million to procure and deploy hybrid spectrum monitoring system that would cover the south-east.

Addressing journalists at the end of the federal executive council meeting on Wednesday, Isa Pantami (pictured), the minister of communications and digital economy, said the approval followed the presentation of an investigative report by the ministry to the council on the use of illegal frequencies.

Pantami said the ministry discovered that 106 out of the 320 frequencies being operated across the country were illegal.

“From January to August 2020, within the period of eight months, we discovered 320 frequencies being used all over the country and of this 320, 106 were illegal,” he explained.

“This is very worrisome because the usage of this illegal spectrum or frequencies will compromise our security and safety in the country.

“It is because of the agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari of promoting security that we came up with this initiative of monitoring the usage of frequencies and uncovered the legal and the illegal ones.

“For the legal ones to ensure they renew their licenses annually and for the illegal ones, necessary actions are being taken according to the gravity of the offence.

“We discovered that our monitoring did not cover south-east. It covered five zones – north-east, north-west, north-central, southwest and south-south. However, south-east has not been covered.

“It is because of this that we presented our memo, seeking for council’s approval of N653,886,584 to procure and deploy hybrid spectrum monitoring system that will cover the southern part of the country, most importantly the south-east.”

Pantami expressed the hope that the deployment of the new hybrid spectrum would go a long way in promoting safety and security, enhance revenue and create many jobs for the citizens