NCC: We are determined to the advancement, Development of the Industry- Danbatta
By Emmanuel Daudu
The Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Nigeria Communications Commission, Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, FNSE, FRAES, FAEng, FNIEE has assured Nigerians of his resolution to advancing and developing the industry.
Danbatta made the statement while giving a keynote speech at the “Talk To The Regulator Forum” In Yenagoa Bayelsa State, June 1 & 2, 2023.
According to his words, “It is with great delight that I welcome you all to the first Talk-To-The Regulator Forum for the Year, 2023, holding in the South-South, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
“The Nigeria Communications Commission, in keeping with its mandate, creates opportunities to interact with its licensees on industry issues and new trends via stakeholder fora, with a view to gathering relevant information that would further advance the development of the industry, while improving regulations and service delivery to telecom consumers.
“The TTTR Forum in Yenagoa which was originally scheduled to hold in 2022 but was postponed due to the dreadful flood disaster that hit Bayelsa and some other states in the year. The Commission, therefore, seize this opportunity to commiserate with the people of Bayelsa State and the entire nation on the worst flood disaster recorded in the history of the nation. We pray that such natural disaster shall not plaque our dear nation again, and equally believe that the state has made adequate preparations for any future occurrences.
“You will agree with me that the telecom industry has witnessed milestones in more ways than one, including the rapid growth in technology, which is redefining service delivery, and creating wide and high expectations from all stakeholders. To keep up to date with developments in the industry, the Commission has equally taken measures to improve regulations to accommodate the rapid and continuous development. Some of the interventions and responses of the Commission includes but are not limited to:
“Facilitating the Roll-Out of 5G Service provision.
Introduction of Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) Licence to bridge the gap between unserved and underserved areas.
“The Commission is currently reviewing the scope and structure of its existing licenses to make them more robust and to accommodate some of the identified new industry trends.
“In line with the Nigeria National Broadband Plan (NNBP 2020 – 2025), the NCC is providing industry leadership to facilitate the achievement of 90% Broadband penetration by year 2025, and well above 50% at the end of 2023. Currently, over a One Hundred and Fifty (I50) million Nigerians have internet access, while over eighty (80) million can access high-speed internet.
“The ‘Talk-To-The Regulator` Forum is a common platform for non-discriminatory interaction on a one-on-one basis, between the Licensees and the Regulator on several industry issues, pertinent to the Licensees and of national interest.
“I am pleased to welcome our Licensees to this event and hopeful that during the 2-Day Session, we would discuss and identify the measures necessary to improve investment and service delivery”, he added.
Also speaking at the event, the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management
Nigerian Communications Commission, Adeleke Adewolu Esq pointed out that the program
serves as an educational platform where misconceptions about the Commission and its
processes are explained.
“The Communications Sector has proven to be pivotal to the growth and development
of the national economy. The sector has continually ensured that the digital economy
agenda of the Federal Government is established on solid foundations. It has also
proven to be the catalyst for entrenching the activities of both the public and private
sector in the digital space, seamlessly.
The Communications Sector is indeed the pace-setter sector as far as the expansion of
the frontiers for national development is concerned. This was further underscored by
the recent deployment of the Fifth Generation Technology (5G) services in the Country
which we believe will ensure that Nigeria maximizes the benefit of the 4th Industrial
Revolution whilst being sufficiently prepared for any attendant risk that may occur.
“A market study has shown that the deployment of 5G Technology Services will result in $13.2 trillion in global economic value by 2035, generating 22.3 million jobs in the
5G global value chain alone. Thus, the Commission has played an effective role in
placing the nation at a vantage position in order to reap these benefits
The exponential growth of the telecommunications sector is largely attributable to
effective policies, legal and regulatory framework implemented by the Federal
Government the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
“This Forum is thus an opportunity for Critical Stakeholders to share their respective
challenges, experiences, and also suggest viable solutions to the Regulator. Constant
engagement with the Regulator is the path towards regulatory efficiency as it preserves
the integrity of the regulatory instruments issued by the Regulator whilst securing the
buy-in of all Stakeholders.
“Recently, the Commission issued a regulatory framework for the licensing of Mobile
Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) in Nigeria as well as the requisite licence for such services and this has witnessed significant interest from prospective investors. New
Market Entrants in this category can leverage on the growth and infrastructure in the
telecommunications industry and it is particularly attractive to investors due to its low
cost of entry in terms of capital expenditure.
“This forum is therefore an opportunity for Stakeholders to seek clarifications from the
Regulator especially as it relates to understanding regulatory obligations, obligations to
the consumer and their collective responsibility to the sustainability of the industry”, he added.
