The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, remitted over 362 billion naira within the past five years to the nation’s federation accounts.
Its Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Prof. Umar Danbatta who disclosed this, said the telecommunications sector would continue to play key role to the diversification of the nation’s economy.
Prof. Danbatta made the assertion while addressing members of Course 29 at the National Defence College, Abuja.
He spoke on the theme, “The Telecommunications Industry and National Development in Nigeria: The Roles of the NCC in Promoting Digital Economy”.
A statement from the Public Affairs Department of NCC quoted Danbatta as saying that “Telecoms sector is the life-wire that will drive the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) of the Federal Government.”
He noted that the sector plays a dual role of contributing to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and being an enabler to other sectors of the economy.
“Telecommunications is key to the diversification of the Nigerian economy, as the telecom sector played a dual role of contributing to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and being an enabler to other sectors of the economy,” he said.
The EVC said the commission remitted over N362.34 billion as revenue in five (5) years to the Federal Government’s consolidated revenue account.
He listed fixed broadband Infrastructure gap, Right of Way (RoW), Foreign Exchange, Vandalism of telecoms infrastructure, Electric Power Supply, Multiple Taxations and regulations as some of the challenges bedeviling the industry.
On fixed broadband Infrastructure gap, he said, the commission will bolster the existing fibre optic infrastructure across the country by 38,296 km through the infraCo project Initiative.
On Row, the NCC boss said, the engagement with the Nigeria Governors Forum on adoption of N145/m as RoW fees has yielded results in Kaduna, Katsina, Imo, Ekiti and Plateau State.
He therefore, urged other states governments to key into the success of the digital economy drive by reducing RoW fees and other charges targeting telecom service providers.