TheNewsGuru

Tag: Prof Umar Garba Danbatta

  • We will ensure a competitive market that fosters fair inclusion of all players – NCC

    We will ensure a competitive market that fosters fair inclusion of all players – NCC

    The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) has stated that the commission will ensure a competitive market for communications services that foster fair inclusion of all players, and promote local content and innovative services in ways that will facilitate new investment, job creation and consumer satisfaction.

    Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, of NCC who was represented by the Director, Policy Competitive Economic Analysis, Yetunde Akinleye, stated this at a two-day virtual session of the Telecoms Industry Risk Management Conference, starting on 12th December 2022.

    The conference, themed; Nigerian Telecommunication Industry: managing the emergence risks and embracing risk opportunities, had several stakeholders in the telecommunication industry in attendance.

    According to Danbatta, he said that the focus of the two-day Conference was to bring to the fore the ever-rising uncertainties in global economic and the regulatory/operational risks in areas of increased data security regulations, new partnerships and transforming business models.

    His statement reads: I am indeed delighted to be here, to present the Keynote Address at this Telecommunications Industry Risk Management Conference with the theme “Nigerian Telecommunications Industry: Managing the Emerging Risks and Embracing Risk Opportunities.”

    I am confident that as stakeholders, we would endeavour to put our best foot forward and examine the myriad of issues that the Country is confronting in the implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy & Strategy 2020 – 2030. This is necessary for enhancing the development of a sustainable ICT sector in Nigeria. The focus of this two-day Conference is to bring to the fore the ever-rising uncertainties in the global economic and the regulatory/operational risks in the areas of increased data security regulations, new partnerships and transforming business models, fast-changing mix of mounting CAPEX burdens, shifting market structures, newly emerging disruption scenarios, regulatory and policy challenges amongst others.

    This conference should be able to position the industry to deal with the above-mentioned issues which will be of immense benefit to the telecoms industry and to our individual operations.

    The Nigerian Communications Commission, as the regulator of the Telecoms Industry has been in the forefront of ensuring that the telecoms industry is not adversely impacted by these uncertainties/risks. One of our Strategic Visions is to ensure a competitive market for the communications services that foster fair inclusion of all players, promotes local content and Innovative services in ways that facilitate new investment, job creation and consumer satisfaction.
    The NDEPS is the guiding document for the Federal Government’s activities to maximise the immense opportunities that are inherent in digital technologies so as to diversify our economy and attain the key national objectives of improving security, reducing corruption, and expanding the economy. We can all acknowledge our highly innovative people and the thriving digital economy, which is creating employment opportunities for Nigeria’s teeming population and enabling wealth creation for Nigerians, irrespective of where they live and work. In addition, we equally note improvements in the Broadband penetration, which is 45.09% as at the end of September 2022 and the development of Digital Industrial Parks (DIP) which will ensure digital skills acquisition, promote innovations, provide jobs and support the overall digital economy agenda of the Federal Government.

    All these programmes and initiatives as well as many others would be impacted when we do not take appropriate steps to critically assess the challenges that we are facing as a fast-evolving industry and proffer solutions that sustain the advances in the Digital Economy ecosystem.

    While risk management has been critical in our regulatory service delivery, we acknowledge that all stakeholders must be concerned about the varied uncertainties that the Industry is confronting. The Information and Communication Technologies Sector is inherently filled with several business and technology risks. It is therefore important that regulatory risks be minimised to ensure that services are not disrupted and consumers obtain the best and latest services that are globally available. The Commission in a bid to ensure that Operators in the industry enjoy a conducive operating environment has had cause to seek for government interventions and collaborate with other Agencies of Government in addressing major risk like:
    • Cybersecurity and Online Fraud
    • Regulatory burden
    • Double Taxation
    • Vandalism of Telecommunication Infrastructures.
    • Right of Way challenges.
    • Access to Foreign Exchange.
    • Inter Industry Debt.

    As we may all be aware, this Telecoms Industry Risk Management Conference is the first of its kind in the history of the Commission. This conference, therefore, among other benefits, is designed to expose participants to some of the approaches needed to properly manage the risk exposures, alongside harnessing the opportunities available from such risks. It gladdens my heart to see representatives of key players, and stakeholders of the Industry participating in the event. It is pertinent to note the importance of this Conference in focusing attention to risks that impact all stakeholders, Operators, Consumers and therefore the Commission’s responsibilities in driving the Digital Economy agenda of the Federal Government.

    Notwithstanding these daunting challenges, there is hope. The Commission will not relent until these risk elements are properly identified and adequate mitigation strategies communicated to all stakeholders. We will constructively collaborate with all stakeholders in sustaining a conducive environment that will continuously attract both local and foreign investors. This is the only way we can continue to increase our contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the Nigerian Economy and ensure that investors have a higher Return on Investment (ROI).

    It is on this note that I implore every participant in this conference to take seriously the theme and sub-themes, carefully chosen to meet the industry’s risk management needs. The Paper presenters are suitably qualified and will give us the needed flair, and flow, to the discussion topics. I am sure that this conference will be highly interactive and value-adding. On this note, I hereby declare this conference open and wish you all successful deliberations.

  • NCC contributes N2.272 trillion to GDP – Danbatta

    NCC contributes N2.272 trillion to GDP – Danbatta

    The telecommunication sector contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has risen from 8.5 percent in 2015 to 14.3 percent as at September 2020, amounting to N2.272 trillion.

    Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) Umar Garba Danbatta disclosed this when members of the House of Representatives Committee on Telecommunication visited the Commission on an oversight.

    He also disclosed investments in the sector have risen from $38 billion in 2015 to over $70 billion.

    He told the lawmakers that the commission paid over N344 billion into the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the federation within the period under review, an average of N70 billion annually.

    He put the figure of active telecom subscribers in the country at about 205.25 million with a tele density of 107 percent as at the end of September 2020.

    He explained even though the population stands at about 200 million, it was possible to have such a figure of active subscribers because “while some people have one active line, others have two or three active lines”.

    He told the lawmakers: “We generated these monies from Spectrum fees, operating surplus and we have also embarked on spectrum option. We have conducted one of the most successful spectrum options as well expanding the spectrum to optimize the system.

    “We have participated actively with results in the promotion of financial inclusivity of the federal government. All our mobile network operators and licensees participated in the provision of money mobile services to the extent that today, it is unthinkable for the banking sector to function or flourish in the way it is doing without leveraging on the telecommunication sector.

    “Indeed, we are seeking support of this committee to participate and attain the target of the federal government of 80 percent financial inclusion by 2023.”

    Chairman of the House Committee on Telecommunication Akeem Adeyemi said the oversight was aimed at ensuring that the commission was working in line with the provisions of the constitution in the implementation of government programmes of policies.

    He said: “We choose oversight to hold government accountable and ensure their actions are legitimate. The oversights are targeted at assisting President Muhammadu Buhari in his quest to lift millions of Nigerians out poverty, a determination which we understand the NCC will play a pivotal role. The committee will fact check every subhead in the budget of agencies under the committee.”

  • Telecoms masts pose health hazard only if EMF exceeds limit – NCC

    The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof Umar Garba Danbatta has continue to argue against the position of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) that exposure to electromagnetic field (EMF) from base transceiver masts is hazardous to human health.

    Prof. Danbatta’s position as reported by TheNewsGuru was that the belief that telecom masts and/or towers constitute health hazards was mere imagination and myth, stressing that the belief “…has no scientific base”.

    Prof Danbatta was responding to questions yesterday in Abuja at a sitting of the House of Representatives’ Ad Hoc Committee that is currently investigating the health implications of mounting telecommunications masts close to buildings.

    “With regards to other professional bodies like Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), we don’t have any quarrel with their positions.

    “The only question is when we say exposure to electromagnetic field is hazardous to health what level are we talking about? We have to define the level of exposure that is hazardous to human beings.

    “Of course if you generate a massive electromagnetic field of unprecedented proportion and put a person inside, there will be medical consequences,” Danbatta said at the sitting.

    To prove his point further, Danbatta said given the concerns, researches so far conducted in areas where telecoms masts are located have not indicated any adverse health effects.

    “What we are saying is that: provided the limit specified is observed and NCC is there to ensure compliance with that limit, there is no health hazard.

    “There is a limit of safety below which electromagnetic fields do not cause any harm to health,” he explained.

  • We need 80 Thousand Base Stations for Smart Nigeria – Danbatta

    We need 80 Thousand Base Stations for Smart Nigeria – Danbatta

    The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof Umar Garba Danbatta has said Nigeria needs at least seventy thousand to eighty thousand telecommunication base stations to actualize the dream of joining the club of countries working toward making Internet of Things (IoT) a reality by leveraging 4G and 5G networks.

    Prof Danbatta, who made this known at a sitting of the House of Representatives’ Ad Hoc Committee investigating the health implications of mounting telecommunications masts close to building, yesterday in Abuja, said the country currently has less than 50,000 base stations.

    “3G, 4G going to 5G networks are going to usher this country into smart applications, the Internet of Things or the smart world and cities we are talking about.

    “And of course because of the additional burden on infrastructure, the present capacity of telecom infrastructure is grossly inadequate to cater for these additional platforms or services we talk about.

    “Therefore we will need from 70,000 to 80,000 base transceiver masts to be able to provide the effective capacity that is needed to deploy 4G going to 5G,” Danbatta said while responding to questions from members of the ad hoc committee.

    He later called on other approving agencies at all levels of government in the country to synergize with NCC with a view to achieving the target, noting that the United Kingdom (UK), with a population of almost one third of Nigeria already has close to 60,000 masts.