At TTTR In Yenegoa, NCC  Underscores Criticality Of Communications Sector;  Seeks Buy-in Of Industry Stakeholders On Its Regulatory Instruments

By Clifford Agugoesi, Editor-in-Chief

The Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management (ECSM) at the Nigerian Communications Commission(NCC), Adeleke Adewolu has underscored the importance of the Communications Sector under the regulatory purview of NCC,  while canvassing the support and cooperation of industry stakeholders with regard to regulatory instruments instigated by the Commission.

Mr. Adewolu explained that the Communications Sector had proven to be pivotal to the growth and development  of the national economy, saying the sector had continually ensured that the digital economy  agenda of the Federal Government was established on solid foundations.  Adewolu added that the sector had also  proven to be the catalyst for entrenching the activities of both the public and private  sector in the digital space, seamlessly.

“The Communications Sector is indeed the pace-setter sector as far as the expansion of  the frontiers for national development is concerned. This was further underscored by  the recent deployment of the Fifth Generation Technology (5G) services in the Country  which we believe will ensure that Nigeria maximises the benefit of the 4th Industrial  Revolution whilst being sufficiently prepared for any attendant risk that may occur.

A market study has shown that the deployment of 5G Technology Services will result  in US$13.2 trillion in global economic value by 2035, generating 22.3 million jobs in the  5G global value chain alone. Thus, the Commission has played an effective role in  placing the nation at a vantage position in order to reap these benefits.  The exponential growth of the telecommunications sector is largely attributable to  effective policies, legal and regulatory framework implemented by the Federal  Government through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC),” he said.

Adewolu made this critical intervention at “The Talk to the Regulator  Forum”(TTTR) held in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State, south south of the country.

According to him,  TTTR  was in tandem with the Commission’s  strategic objective to facilitate strategic collaboration and partnership with critical stakeholders in the industry.

“The essence of the forum is 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,” he said.

This Forum, Adewolu emphasized,  was thus an opportunity for Critical Stakeholders to share their respective  challenges, experiences and also suggest viable solutions to the Regulator, noting that  constant  engagement with the Regulator was the path towards regulatory efficiency as it preserved the integrity of the regulatory instruments issued by the Regulator whilst securing the  buy-in of all Stakeholders.

The NCC ECSM further explained that recently, the Commission issued a regulatory framework for the licensing of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) in Nigeria as well as the requisite licence for such  services saying this had witnessed significant interest from prospective investors.

According to him, new  Market Entrants in this category could leverage on the growth and infrastructure in the  telecommunications industry and it was particularly attractive to investors due to its low  cost of entry in terms of capital expenditure.

Said Adewolu: “This forum is therefore an opportunity for Stakeholders to seek clarifications from the  Regulator especially as it relates to understanding regulatory obligations, obligations to  the consumer and their collective responsibility to the sustainability of the industry.

I encourage you to garner as much as you can from this forum. I also enjoin you to  freely make contributions and raise issues that would assist the Commission in coming  up with adequate regulatory measures that would enhance development in the  communications sector of the economy. We assure you that every view expressed  would be respected and duly considered.”

-With Additional Reporting By Precious John, Senior Special Correspondent