Dambatta highlights importance of engaging with telecom stakeholders

The Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), 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 Executive Vice Chairman, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, said this in his Keynote speech at the first `Talk-To-The Regulator (TTIR) forum”   in Yenagoa Bayelsa State today (Thursday).

According to him, 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 nation’s telecommunications industry, the Nigerian Telecommunications Commission (NCC) said it has 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.

Dambatta equally pointed out that 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 access to internet, 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.

“I therefore appeal to you all to feel free to ask questions, provide feedback and proffer possible solutions that would address the concerns that might be raised during the interactive sessions”.

In his remarks at the event, Mr. Adeleke Adewolu, Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, pointed out that the essence of the forum was to create awareness about the activities of the Commission as a Regulator and also obtain feedback from critical stakeholders on how the industry affects their daily lives as well as the role of the Regulator in enhancing same. It also 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”, he said.

The Zonal Controller of the Communications, Port Harcourt Zonal Office Mr. Venny Eze expressed gratitude to the Licensees from the South-South Zone, for honouring the invitation, to participate in the Yenogoa Edition of the forum. He enjoined them to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the forum to engage in robust discussions, while proffering solutions to certain topical issues of concern that would be raised, in the course of this engagement.

According to him, “there is no doubt that the NCC values the views and contributions of its stakeholders. It is our sincere hope that the views and contributions that would arise from this session would aid the Commission in the development and advancement of the telecommunications industry”.