The Nigerian government has commenced a comprehensive review of telecommunications policies aimed at attracting foreign direct investment, improving service quality, and aligning with evolving technological developments in the industry.
This initiative was announced by Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), during a media engagement in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to Dr. Maida, the review has become necessary considering global dynamics in the telecommunications sector. The exercise will ensure alignment among critical stakeholders, consumers, and Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) on regulatory issues, enforcement, quality of service, profitability, competition, investment, and internet safety.
"This engagement is a response to calls for increased interaction with NCC's leadership. You spoke, and we listened. In the early 2000s, we were regulating voice and text. Now we're in the information age, with over 1,000 licences under our purview. Scaling the old model is impracticable. We are now complementing regulation with transparency and data-driven competition," Dr. Maida explained.
Data Depletion Concerns Addressed
The NCC boss revealed that a recent study conducted by KPMG for the commission showed that consumer data is not being depleted by service providers as widely perceived. Instead, data consumption is primarily influenced by the types of devices and applications being used by consumers.
He noted that the commission had observed with concern consumers' perceptions regarding data depletion, quality of service, tariff increases, and the need to hold service providers accountable.
To address these concerns, the Director of Consumer Affairs, Freda Bruce-Bennett, provided practical tips to help Nigerians manage their data usage more effectively, such as turning off autoplay on social media apps and limiting background data consumption.
Sector Growth and New Initiatives
Dr. Maida highlighted significant growth in the telecommunications industry within his two years of appointment, noting greater accountability and transparency in operations. He announced that mobile network subscribers had reached 172 million, with broadband subscribers at 105 million and internet subscribers at 141 million. Investments in the sector have exceeded one billion dollars.
The NCC is adopting information disclosure strategies rooted in behavioral economics to encourage service providers toward improved performance. Several consumer-focused initiatives were announced, including a public map of network performance to be launched in September, which will provide transparent access to real-time quality metrics such as download speed, latency, and quarterly network performance reports based on crowdsourced user data.
"We see corporate governance as a powerful lever for industry transformation. Transparent, well-governed companies attract investment and perform better. We're setting the foundation for a Nigerian telecom company that is wholly owned, well-run, and globally competitive," Maida stated.
The NCC-CBN joint task force has also developed a new operational framework to standardize electronic recharge processes, addressing the issue of failed top-ups of data.
Mrs. Nnenna Ukoha, Director of Public Affairs, assured of the NCC's commitment to deepening its relationship with the media, emphasizing that journalists, as critical stakeholders, have vital roles to play in the work of the commission.
The policy review is being driven by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, and is expected to attract more investment and generate increased revenues for government coffers once completed.
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