Business Briefs
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THE Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has said that the investment volume in the nation’s telecommunications industry is estimated at $32 billion, representing 9.2 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Products, GDP. Eugene Juwah, executive vice chairman, NCC, said the sector which about four years ago contributed 4.56 percent to GDP has increased its contribution significantly.
At the 2014 Telecoms Executives and Regulator forum, organised by the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, ATCON in Lagos. Juwah said the telecommunications sector has become a major enabler for other sectors of the economy in the country. According to him, the completion processes for the InfraCos is being delayed because the foreign consultants hired for the implementation processes are scared of coming to Nigeria because of Ebola. He, however, said: “I shall be travelling out soon to meet them. We are hoping to complete the process as soon as possible. Remember we are starting with Lagos and the North East. The InfraCos will help strengthen Nigeria’s broadband drive.”
Earlier, Lanre Ajayi, president, ATCON, said the forum remains one of ATCON’s growth initiatives for the telecom industry in Nigeria. “It is designed for the purpose of creating a veritable opportunity for key industry players to interact with the industry regulator, with the aim of building a continual good working relationship between industry players and the regulator. It is also aimed at creating a platform for the regulator to update the industry on the regulatory direction and plans for the industry in the coming years.
“This hopefully, would enable industry stakeholders to understand how best to cooperate with the regulatory agency in ensuring the effectiveness and success of policies and regulations in the industry. Furthermore, the forum is designed as an avenue for the regulator to receive feedback from the industry with a view to understanding the challenges and prospects industry players have to grapple with and explore to ensure sustained growth of the industry,” Ajayi said.
Ajayi said that ATCON members strongly believe in knowledge sharing that would further stimulate the accelerated development of our industry. “Ultimately, we need to succeed in further winning the confidence of the international community to see Nigeria as a preferred investment destination in Africa. This is why we consider it a worthwhile venture to continually engage ourselves in programmes that would enable us advance the frontiers of telecommunications/ICT in Nigeria.
“We congratulate the Nigerian Communications Commission for its excellent regulatory role which has put the Nigerian telecom sector on the world map. We also express our sincere gratitude to all our sponsors and supporters. We immensely appreciate all the resource persons for their contributions, and of course, all the participants for creating time out of their busy schedules to be in this forum.”
The industry players and participants at the forum brainstormed on measures that would accelerate the rapid expansion of telecommunications services across the federation in the years ahead.
— Nov. 3, 2014 @ 01:00 GMT
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