The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said it has continued to work vigorously with industry partners and stakeholders in ensuring that the nation’s ICT infrastructure is able to meet the increasing demand for connectivity.
The Commission noted that achieving rapid connectivity means that it must engage with stakeholders to facilitate infrastructure deployment in the sector.
Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta made this disclosure on Wednesday in a keynote address he presented at the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) Virtual Innovative Tech Forum Webinar.
Represented by the Commission’s Director of Technical Standards & Network Integrity, Engineer Bako Wakil, the EVC stated that the Commission has intensified its engagement, collectively with Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and individually with state governors to push the National Economic Council’s resolutions on multiple taxations, multiple regulations and minimum uniform Right of Way (RoW) charges, as well as address other issues impeding telecoms infrastructure deployment in some states.
“Furthermore, we are working with the Nigeria Industrial Policy and Competitiveness Advisory Council (critical Infrastructure Sub-Committee) under the auspices of the Vice President on various initiatives towards identifying and implementing initiatives aimed at improving broadband penetration in the country,” he stated.
Danbatta noted that as important as all these are, the safety of the country’s cyberspace remains critical as businesses, governments and individuals rely more intensely on ICT for their day-to-day activities following the pandemic.
The re-direction of human traffic to online portals for major transactions as a result of social distancing, Danbatta said, also meant that cybercriminals have a larger audience and a much bigger playground to unleash malicious attacks.
“In the post-pandemic era, cyber threats are likely to become the most effective way to attack an organization or a country, and the trends indicate that cybercriminals are finding even more sophisticated ways of carrying out their nefarious activities.
“It is instructive to note that NCC adheres strictly with ITU guidelines for the global telecoms industry and has been actively in support of initiatives to propagate a safe online community,” he said.
Danbatta further revealed that the NCC, CBN, major financial institutions and Security Agencies have been working diligently at ensuring that Nigeria’s ICT space is safe and secure, particularly as the economy migrates to significant online and electronic financial transactions.
According to him, “The NCC is responding to the challenge of new financial technologies and electronic innovations in the financial systems riding on telecommunications networks as the nation’s economy seeks to reboot post-pandemic.
“These innovations are driven by the availability of a robust communications infrastructure made possible by the Commission’s continuous quest for investment in the sector.”
He pointed out that the collaborative partnership between the NCC and the CBN has been very effective, leading to the emergence of various brands of electronic transaction models which have totally reformed banking in Nigeria, making it possible for instant cash transfers which have cut out waiting times at banking halls and simplified online transactions.
“Between 2015 and 2020, much has been done to put Nigeria on the global map of nations that are electronically driven while delivering financial intermediation.
“Together with our stakeholders from the banking sector, the NCC is actively involved in the application of various electronic portals that continue to drive transactions off banking floor and onto handheld devices or personal computers,” Danbatta said.
The EVC stated that the NCC’s interventions have continued to lift the Nigerian economy and create hope for financial inclusion based on the seamless implementation of the Commissions Strategic Vision Plan.
The NCC boss expressed hope that Nigerians would begin to reap the rewards of the Strategic Vision Plan of his administration in the coming years, rewards that would provide Nigerians with the comfort of new innovations and new ways of living.
“It is a future in which Broadband penetration would be ubiquitous, Quality of Service will be assured and the available spectrum would be optimized with full benefits.
“Moreover, there would be more investment opportunities in the industry, greater strategic collaborations and partnerships, enhanced consumer protection and empowerment, as well as an environment of fair competition and inclusive growth,” Danbatta said.