Nigerian Flight Deck Travel and Business Reportage
NIGERIAN Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has again threatened to start demolishing some telecommunication masts belonging to telecommunication companies, especially Globacom Limited in various locations across the country over illegal erection of high infrastructure and failure to pay N5.9billion renewal fees for aviation height clearance.
NCAA in a letter dated July 14, 2021 titled Illegal Erection of High Structures and Refusal to Renew Expired Aviation Height Clearance Certificates addressed to Globacom Nigeria Limited NCAA/DG/GC/8/15/362 claimed that it was constrained to write Globacom again over the payment of its debts as the network provider has not shown any indication of willingness to pay the remaining debts.
NCAA had listed the indebtedness of Globacom to include application fee at N100, 000 per mast, totalling N689,800,000, annual renewal fee for 2007-2022 (15 years), N50,000 per mast amounting to N6,898 and inspection fee covering 6,898 masts across the nation all totalling N6,064,230,000.
The document had shown that the telecommunication network provider paid the sum of N100 million as its last payment deposit with the company having an outstanding N5, 964,230.000 AHC: NCAA begins immediate decommissioning of 7,012 Glo masts, 1,793 others
In a follow-up letter dated October 4, 2021, titled: “Re: Illegal Erection of High Structures and Refusal to Renew Expired Aviation Height Clearance Certificates by Globacom Limited,” and addressed to the Managing Director, Globacom, NCAA threatened that following the failure by Globacom to pay the required fees amounting to N5.9 billion, it had no choice but to commence the dismantling of the its masts across the country without further notice.
“In the circumstance, having exhausted all avenues for a resolution of this matter, we are now left without choice but to apply the relevant sanctions, including the dismantling of all your non-compliant masts nationwide. And this shall be without further notice to you, “it said.
The letter, which was signed by Legal Adviser/Head, Compliance and Enforcement, Mr. Emmanuel Chukwuma, reminded Globacom that the meeting to discuss the above subject matter, was fixed for September 23, 2021, at the instance of Globacom who did not show.
Letter further read, “I am directed to inform you that the NCAA is not disposed to granting this latest (fourth) request to reschedule the meeting, particularly, as no reason was given for your non-attendance on the last date.
“In the circumstance, having exhausted all avenues for a resolution of this matter, we are now left without choice but to apply the relevant sanctions including the dismantling of all your non-compliant masts nationwide. And this shall be without further notice to you, “it said.
