The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has concluded arrangements to mark the 2023 World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) in Abuja.
NCC will use the special day to spotlight its regulatory initiatives on clean energy usage in the telecoms sector.
Reuben Muoka, NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, announced this in a statement, made available to The NewsZenith on Friday.
The theme of the 2023 edition of the Day is “Empowering Consumers through Clean Energy Transitions”.
The Commission declared 2017 as the Year of the Telecom Consumers when it honoured telecom consumers.
In line with the global theme for the commemoration of the Day, NCC has continued to promote consumer protection and enlightenment.
NCC’s Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Mr Adeleke Adewolu, said the theme provides an opportunity for NCC to share the policies it has instituted with telecom consumers and other stakeholders.
This is to encourage operators in the sector to transition to environmentally friendly and renewable energy sources in their operations.
Adewolu represented the Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Umar Danbatta, at the inauguration of the committee that organised the event.
According to him, the Commission is committed to reducing the impact that telecommunications operation has on climate change and the environment.
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He noted that unstable Nigeria’s electricity supply has led to the telecommunications sector contributing to carbon emissions.
According to the NCC boss, studies show that renewables and energy efficiency, boosted by substantial electrification, can provide over 90 per cent reductions in energy-related carbon emissions.
He said increasing the use of electricity sourced from renewables presents the best opportunity to accelerate the world’s energy transformation.
“The theme is very apt this year, as we know the implication of the climate change disaster facing the world.
“So, as a Commission, we will reduce the impact of climate change.
“The telecoms sector contributes to global emissions, particularly when you realise that there are over 54,000 base transmitter stations powered 24 hours seven days a week, by generators.
“You can imagine the emissions from these,” Danbatta said.
The Commission, he said, is already looking at introducing a policy to encourage ethical energy sources.
This is part of the Commission’s commitment to safeguarding the environment for consumers and other users of telecom services.
He added that the move “is in tandem with the process of actualising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”.
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