Section 23: Provisions applicable on an occasion of emergency.

If on the occasion of an emergency or in the public interest the President declares that the Government of the Federation shall have control over the transmission or reception of messages by wireless telegraphy, then, after publication of a notice to that effect in the Federal Gazette and until further notice, the following provisions shall apply-
(a)
the Commission may by order prohibit for such period and to such extent as may be specified in the order the use of wireless telegraphy on board such vessels, aircraft or vehicles as may be specified in the order in or over Nigeria or the territorial water adjacent thereto;
[1998 No. 31.]
(b) the Commission, or any public officer authorised in writing by the Commission, may-
(i) take possession of any apparatus for wireless telegraphy installed on any station for wireless telegraphy licenced under this Act or forming part of the stock of a wireless dealer licensed under this Act and use such apparatus for official purposes; or
(ii) place any person in control of any such apparatus; or
(iii) direct the licensee or person in charge of such apparatus to submit to him all or any communications tendered for transmission or received by means of the apparatus; or
(iv) stop or delay or direct the licensee or person in charge of such apparatus to stop or delay the transmission or delivery of any such communication or to deliver them to him; or
(v) direct the licensee or person in charge of such apparatus to comply with all such directions as he may think fit to give with reference to the transmission or receipt of communication by means of the apparatus;
(c) there shall be payable to the licensee of such apparatus for any damage to the apparatus arising in consequence of the exercise of the powers conferred by this section such compensation as in the opinion of the Commission may be reasonable;
(d) the Commission may, notwithstanding anything contained in a licence issued under this Act, by order, prohibit for such time as may be specified in the order any licence from communicating with any station for wireless telegraphy licensed by or belong to any country which is at war;
(e) the captain or person in charge of any vessel, aircraft or vehicle in relation to which any order or direction under this section is contravened and any person who contravenes any order or direction under this section shall be guilty of an offence.