- Plans fibre deployment in 774 local govt
- remits N362.34 bn in 5 years
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said that it would to take broadband penetration to at least 90 per cent of the population by 2025 in line with new target in the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NBBP), 2020-2025.
Its Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Prof Umar Garba Danbatta dropped the hint during an exclusive first virtual interactive media session in Abuja.
He noted that NCC would continue to support and fast-track the digital economy drive of the Federal Government of Nigeria, saying that this had led to the creation of a Digital Economy Department in the Commission.
Danbatta explained that the commission was placing emphasis on growing the digital economy in collaboration with sister agencies under the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy (FMoCDE).
He added: “We hope to consolidate on spectrum trading to ensure maximum and efficient usage of available frequencies; continuous SIM registration audit to provide security and curtail incidences of banditry, kidnapping and armed robbery; completion and commissioning of Emergency Communications Centres (ECCs) in the remaining states to enhance security and provide relief to citizens in distress.”
Also, Danbatta explained that the commission was committed to the execution of the counterpart funding agreements with the Licensed InfraCo to facilitate increase in fibre deployment in the country and ensure, at least one Point of Access (PoA) in each of the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Nigeria to enhance digital transformation.
According the executive vice chairman, “the NCC remains committed to driving the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) and the NBBP 2020-2025 for advancing the digital economy vision of the Federal Government.”
He said that the the recently unveiled new NCC Strategic Management Plan (SMP) 2020-2024 was NCC’s visioning document for planning and defining its strategic goals and set objectives.
Danbatta stressed that the strategic plan had five strategic pillars, which include regulatory excellence, universal broadband, promote development of digital economy, market development; and strategic partnering.
He noted that the last five years had been very exciting for him as the task of leading the regulation of a dynamic sector such as the Nigerian telecommunications industry presents enormous opportunities and challenges.
Danbatta listed NCC strategic agenda to include: The 8-point agenda rested on a tripod of ‘A’s which include Availability, Accessibility and Affordability of service; through diligent implementation of each of the elements of the agenda, has significantly and measurably improved digital access and deepened broadband penetration thus expanding the frontiers for a truly national digital economy; facilitating Broadband penetration; In 2015, broadband penetration in Nigeria was less than 6per cent;
He recalled that NCC had and impressive 42.02 per cent in broadband penetration as at July, 2020. Noting that this achievement was as a result of key policy initiatives to improve broadband penetration embarked upon by the commission.
Danbatta added that NCC was working with the Nigeria Industrial Policy and Competiveness Advisory Council (Critical Infrastructure Sub Committee) under the auspices of the Vice President, Yemi Osibanjo on various initiatives towards improving Broadband Penetration.
To underscore the importance of the sector to the economy, he noted, that in June 2020, the Federal Government designated telecoms facilities as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI),saying that the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and all security agencies had since been notified of Mr. President’s directive to that effect.
The NCC boss stressed that a number of initiatives such as spectrum trading, infrastructure sharing, satellite infrastructure and wireless infrastructure have been put in place to drive socio-economic development.
He noted: “For instance, the transfer of the spectrum licence of 2X 10MHz in the 900MHz E-GSM Spectrum band from Intercellular Nigeria to Airtel networks Limited amounted to the sum of N8.9 billion. The amount generated through that singular initiative has brought significant revenue to Government.
“The Commission has also remitted N362.34 billion from 2015 to date to the Federal Government Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) through spectrum fees and operating surplus, which has helped to boost the revenue-generation drive of the current administration.”
