Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman, EVC, and Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of the Nigeria Communications Commission, NCC, has noted that in maximizing the benefits of digital transformation in the country, a resilient Telecoms Infrastructure is needed as key enabler in delivering Information and Communication Technology, ICT services.
Danbatta said this on Thursday during the virtual forum on Right of Way Reforms and Planning Permits for Masts and Towers in Nigeria.
The event was organised by the British Government’s Prosperity Fund’s Digital Access Programme in collaboration with NCC and the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.
The EVC was represented at the event by the NCC’s Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Adeleke Adewolu.
He noted, therefore, that the conference was apt, as it provides effective solutions to Right of Way (RoW) challenges amongst others.
According to him, the input of the well-attended conference will assist the Nigerian Government in further reducing the encumbrances bedeviling Information and Communication Technology infrastructure, more especially when it comes to the provision and building of resilient fixed Infrastructure in the federation.
Danbatta noted that the event will further help in the country’s quest to deepen broadband deployment and penetration.
“Furthermore, ubiquitous broadband will propel social and economic development and growth of citizens, as in; local content development and innovations, the proliferation of ICT industries, building digital skills, etc.,” he said.
“The NCC on its part is ready to collaborate with the UK Government Prosperity Fund-Nigeria Project, especially on the subject matter of today, i.e. reforming the administration of RoW and planning permits in Nigeria.
“We note the short, medium, and long-term actions set up in the report and we will work assiduously to their achievement.
“We also encourage our service providers to appreciate some of the challenges faced by the state government and hope this will enable them to collaborate with the state government to effectively overcome the challenges.
Danbatta also commended the UK Government Prosperity Fund Digital Access Project team for putting them together.
Others at the event were the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isah Ali Ibrahim (Pantami); the UK Government’s Digital Access Programme Adviser and Country Lead, Idongesit Udo; Governors of Ekiti, Katsina, Sokoto, Imo, Plateau and Kwara.
