The 45th Kaduna International Trade Fair presented a good opportunity for the EVC/CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, to recount some of the noteworthy successes and ambitions of the Commission, a notable one being the expansion of Nigeria’s digital frontiers through NCC’s sponsorship of “a number of Hackathons designed to encourage and promote Nigerian innovations”.
Dr. Maida announced, in his address, that “In 2023, three winners emerged in three critical thematic areas of innovations; Blockchain-enabled Data Protection Solutions for Enhancing Regulatory Compliance; Assistive Technology Solutions for the Elderly and People with Disabilities and Technology Solutions for Renewable Energy in Rural Areas”.
The whole idea, he said, was with respect to the Commission’s commitment to “the advancement of local content and the overall development of the Nigerian economy”. The developments were undertaken to showcase “the importance of deepening the local content value chain as a critical driver for economic sustainability and growth”, emphasizing further that “robust local content value chain will not only create economic opportunities but also contribute to technological advancement, job creation, and skills development within the country.”
Enumerating the various initiatives undertaken over the years by the NCC to shore up local content in the telecoms sector, Dr. Maida singled out the Nigerian Office for Development of Indigenous Telecommunications Sector (NODITS) as a critical unit in its Digital Economy Department created to encourage “local manufacturing and assembly of telecommunications equipment, promote local software development, and support initiatives aimed at enhancing digital skills and entrepreneurship among Nigerian youth”.
He elucidated on the position of the NCC as an Independent National Regulatory Authority that oversees Telecommunication Services in Nigeria, affirming that “Our vision at NCC is to create a dynamic regulatory environment that ensures universal access to affordable and equitable service and supports the nation’s economic growth”, adding that “the Commission carries out its functions to ensure service availability, accessibility, affordability, and sustainability for all categories of consumers, who are leveraging on ICT/Telecoms to drive personal and business activities”.
There is fruit to show for the efforts being put in place as, according to Dr Maida, citing the Nigerian Gross Domestic Product Report, November 2023, (a publication of the National Bureau of Statistics), as at Q3 of 2023, the telecoms industry’s contribution to the nation’s GDP stood at 13.5%. This is quite a milestone achieved and shows the potential of the telecoms industry to contribute significantly to the nation’s economic recovery and growth.
The EVC also spoke on the NCC’s continued prioritization “of consumer protection and empowerment, ensuring that consumers have access to high-quality telecommunications services and are well-informed about their rights and responsibilities”, in line with the Commission’s belief that “an empowered consumer base is essential for driving demand and sustaining the growth of the local content value chain”.
He went on to itemize some of the robust regulatory framework that had been established to promote “transparency, quality of service, and fair competition”. “Additionally, he said, “we have set up channels for consumer redress, ensuring that consumers can resolve disputes in a timely and efficient manner”. He listed the “established seamless programs that will Protect, Inform and Educate (PIE Mandate) telecom consumers through various consumer-centric initiatives” such as the –
- Consumer Education Outreach Programmes
- Consumer Complaints Management (CCM)
- Development of the Do-Not-Disturb (DND) 2442 Short Code Development of Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
- Partnership with Law Enforcement agencies to protect Telecom Infrastructure
- Campaign against Sales & Buying of Pre-registered SIM Cards;
- Direction on Roll-Over of Data
- Telecom Consumer Assistance, Resolution and Enquiries (TELCARE) Desk at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja
- Harmonized Short Codes
One measure EVC Maida harped on strongly was with regards to the Campaign on National Identification Number – Subscriber Identification Module (NIN-SIM) Linkage. This, he stressed, was a matter of national security, for which reason the NCC had directed telecoms operators to bar the phone lines of those in breach of the directive beginning 28th February, 2024.
