Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Umar Danbatta
Stories by Bode Adewumi
THE Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, has described as key the role of telecommunications to the diversification of the nation’s economy.
Danbatta made this assertion in his presentation to Course 29 Participants at the National Defence College, Nigeria, last week.
Speaking on a theme, “The Telecommunications Industry and National Development in Nigeria: The Roles of the NCC in Promoting Digital Economy”, Danbatta said, the telecoms sector is the life-wire that will drive the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) of the Federal Government.”
He noted that the sector plays a dual role of contributing to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and being an enabler to other sectors of the economy.
“Telecommunications is key to the diversification of the Nigerian economy, as the telecoms sector played a dual role of contributing to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and being an enabler to other sectors of the economy,” he said.
The EVC informed that the commission remitted over N362.34 billion as revenue in five (5) years to the Federal Government’s consolidated revenue account.
He listed fixed broadband Infrastructure gap, Right of Way (RoW), Foreign Exchange, Vandalism of telecoms infrastructure, Electric Power Supply, Multiple Taxations and regulations as some of the challenges bedeviling the industry.
On fixed broadband infrastructure gap, he said, the commission will bolster the exiting fibre optic infrastructure across the country by 38,296 km through the infraCo project Initiative.
On Row, the NCC boss said, the engagement with the Nigeria Governors Forum on adoption of N145/m as RoW fees has yielded results in Kaduna, Katsina, Imo, Ekiti and Plateau State.
He urged other states’ governments to key into the success of the digital economy drive by reducing RoW fees and other charges targeting telecom service providers.
Danbatta’s paper delved into a range of issues, including the correlation between broadband and GDP, telecom contribution to national development, telecom investment trend in Nigeria, telecom contribution to digital economy, conceptualisation of digital economy among others.
YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
COVID-19 Infections Surge Again As Nigeria Records Highest Weekly Cases In Four Months
Last week, the country’s COVID-19 infections witnessed yet another significant increase. Nigeria recorded 3,817 new COVID-19 infections which is the highest the country has recorded in over four months, Tribune Online analysis shows…
A close ally of President Donald Trump and the United States Attorney General, William Barr, has resigned his appointment after holding a meeting with the president…
Bandits Moved Abducted 333 School Boys On Bikes —DHQ
THE Nigerian Army, on Monday, gave more insight into the abduction of school children in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State…
Rays of the afternoon sun pelted her head as she fanned the embers beneath the half-cut iron drum with the smoke permeating the air. “This smoke is unbearable, Iya Maria,” said one of the three neighbours conversing under a makeshift shed about five meters away. Their voices rose and fell intermittently…
There is no animal that physically looks exactly like we humans but with research, it…
Troops of the 135 Special Forces Battalion under Operation Desert Sanity IV have rescued four…
A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Lupus Warriors NG, has called on the government to intensify efforts…
The Niger State Pilgrims Welfare Board has announced that the airlift of its 2025 pilgrims…
“I have lived my life decently without government money or stealing anybody’s thing. I want…
“The only channel for submission is the EMC+ system. It’s completely online, transparent, efficient, and…
This website uses cookies.