Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta has said that since he assumed office some six years ago, the Commission under him has focused on strategic objectives which are in tandem with the policy objectives of the current Federal Government.
Danbatta was speaking at the launch of the Commission’s Strategic Vision Plan 2021-2025, the NCC Podcast and the Book, ‘Compendium of EVC’s Speeches’ on Tuesday at the Communications and Digital Economy Complex, Mbora, Abuja.
He said that the Commission’s strategic objectives, the result of a careful assessment of some existing policy frameworks, offered it the opportunity to chart a course of action for the sector in a Strategic Vision (Implementation) Plan (SVP) 2015-2020, which aims to Facilitate Broadband Penetration; Improve Quality of Service; and Optimize Usage and Benefits of Spectrum.
It also aims to Promote ICT Investment and Innovation; Protect and Empower Consumers; Promote Fair Competition and Inclusive Growth; Facilitate Strategic Collaboration and Partnerships; and Ensure Regulatory Excellence and Operational Efficiency.
“In developing the SVP (2015-2020), we had leveraged various policy documents, which included Nigeria’s National Broadband Plan (2013-2018) that had set a target of a five-fold increase in broadband penetration, from 6% in 2013 to 30% penetration by the end of 2018. The NCC recorded a broadband penetration of 31.48% in December 2018.
“We also took cognizance of the Commission’s Strategic Management Plan (SMP) 2014–2018 which defined clear strategic results in terms of themes such as facilitating market development, regulatory excellence, ICT penetration, and Strategic Partnering,” he said.
Danbatta stated that as an important stakeholder, even to the international community, the NCC had, in the development of the SVP (2015-2020), also aligned with the global focus of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), leveraging on the Vision Plan (2013-2018) of the ITU which had sustainability, inclusiveness and growth as the primary thrusts in defining the Commission’s implementation items of the Plan.
“Today, here in this Complex, we are at the cusp of yet another history as we launch a new Strategic Vision (Implementation) Plan (SVP) 2021-2025, which will define our strategic thrusts for the next five years. But that is not the only reason for this gathering.
“Perhaps more auspicious is the unveiling of my official book. It is not an academic or a fiction book. It is an official compendium that represents a collection of my various speeches and presentations over the period of my first tenure in office as Executive Vice Chairman.
“The book has been mindfully captioned, “Catalysing Nigeria’s Socio-Economic Transformation through Broadband Infrastructure,” to underscore the centrality of broadband in our journey to a modern digital economy.
“The third and final reason we are here, and by no means the least, is the unveiling of the Commission’s new media channel – NCC Global Connect.
“Therefore, today’s event not only encapsulates the vision, mission and drive of the NCC, but it also highlights our continuous quest to re-invent and re-invigorate ourselves in order to surpass the achievements of the past years,” Danbatta explained.
