By Clifford Agugoesi, Editor-in-Chief

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer(EVC/CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission(NCC)Dr. Aminu Maina  has shared his vision to guide the next phase of revolution in the telecommunications industry, with a promise to steering the industry to contribute more to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in  both percentage and absolute terms, among others.

Recall that according to the Commission, percentage contribution of the telecommunications industry to GDP (Quarter 4 2020-Quarter 3 2023) stood at 13.50 per cent.

In a media luncheon at the instance of the Commission, held Thursday, at The Marriot, Ikeja, Lagos, south west, Nigeria, Dr. Maina, who marked 100 Days of his leadership, stated that time was ripe for the telecommunications industry to be repositioned, as he started his administration at the Commission.

He listed four main drivers namely: Collaboration, Data-centricity, Compliance and Digitisation, to be the anchor for the next phase of growth in the industry in the coming years, which he christened a transition from the development to the maturity phase.

Zeroing in on the specific focus areas, beginning with collaboration, Maina stated that this was critical both with stakeholders within the industry and related industries to achieve the targets of the Federal Government following the specific policy framework  laid down by the supervisory ministry.

On data-centricity, the country’s chief telecoms regulator  underscored the pride of place that data occupied in the telecoms  regulatory scheme of things, to drive effectiveness and efficiency into the system .

On compliance, the EVC/CEO at NCC stated that licensees of the Commission would be held accountable, while guaranteeing a conducive environment, from the regulatory  point of view.

On digitization, Maina stated that the Commission would be utilizing digitization to drive an efficient and effective telecoms industry and digital economy, guided by the template provided by the FMoCIDE.

Shedding light on the Commission’s approach and strategy towards maturing the industry, Dr. Maina explained that in order for the four focus areas to be achieved,  he would be working closely with critical stakeholders listing three majors, namely telecoms consumers, industry including licensees and potential investors in the industry and the government.

He said that under his watch at the Commission, the generic and specific needs of the stakeholders would be factored into the Commission’s initiatives, programmes and activities, adding this would be done transparently.

Specifically on telecoms consumers, he pledged the Commission’s readiness to ensure that consumers enjoyed total quality of experience(QoE) under the national network.   Expatiating on this,  he stated that the Commission, among others, would encourage habits that promoted better data tariff, speeds, coverage and utilization while ensuring the security and integrity of the consumers, without compromising transparency.

With regards to the industry, he communicated the regulator’s readiness to emplace the requisite regulatory instruments and initiatives to ensure a resilient industry that was not enstranged from global best industry practices.  He also said the Commission would be paying great attention to corporate governance issues and advocacy particularly as it concerned critical national digital infrastructure, right of way(RoW) and keeping taxation in the industry southwards, et cetera.

As far as the government is concerned, he assured that the Commission would be keying into the policy direction provided by the FMoCIDE  to ensure that the telecommunications sector contributed more to the gross domestic product in absolute terms.

In rounding off, he appealed to the media for cooperation, friendship and collaboration.

At the luncheon where media executives, publishers, editors, correspondents and executives from other media of communication and commissioners, directors, managers and other staff of the Commission.-Additional Reporting (Kingsley I. Ilechukwu, Bureau Chief, South West).