Protocols.
It is my pleasure to welcome you all to this edition of the “The Talk to the Regulator
Forum” holding in Yenegoa, Bayelsa. This forum is in tandem with the Commission’s
strategic objective to facilitate strategic collaboration and partnership with critical
stakeholders in the industry.
The essence of the forum is to create awareness about the activities of the Commission
as a Regulator and also obtain feedback from critical stakeholders on how the industry
affects their daily lives as well as the role of the Regulator in enhancing same. It also
serves as an educational platform where misconceptions about the Commission and its
processes are explained.
The Communications Sector has proven to be pivotal to the growth and development
of the national economy. The sector has continually ensured that the digital economy
agenda of the Federal Government is established on solid foundations. It has also
proven to be the catalyst for entrenching the activities of both the public and private
sector in the digital space, seamlessly.
The Communications Sector is indeed the pace-setter sector as far as the expansion of
the frontiers for national development is concerned. This was further underscored by
the recent deployment of the Fifth Generation Technology (5G) services in the Country
which we believe will ensure that Nigeria maximises the benefit of the 4th Industrial
Revolution whilst being sufficiently prepared for any attendant risk that may occur.
A market study has shown that the deployment of 5G Technology Services will result
in $13.2 trillion in global economic value by 2035, generating 22.3 million jobs in the
5G global value chain alone. Thus, the Commission has played an effective role in
placing the nation at a vantage position in order to reap these benefits.
The exponential growth of the telecommunications sector is largely attributable to
effective policies, legal and regulatory framework implemented by the Federal
Government the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
This Forum is thus an opportunity for Critical Stakeholders to share their respective
challenges, experiences and also suggest viable solutions to the Regulator. Constant
engagement with the Regulator is the path towards regulatory efficiency as it preserves
the integrity of the regulatory instruments issued by the Regulator whilst securing the
buy-in of all Stakeholders.
Recently, the Commission issued a regulatory framework for the licensing of Mobile
Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) in Nigeria as well as the requisite licence for such
services and this has witnessed significant interest from prospective investors. New
Market Entrants in this category can leverage on the growth and infrastructure in the
telecommunications industry and it is particularly attractive to investors due to its low
cost of entry in terms of capital expenditure.
This forum is therefore an opportunity for Stakeholders to seek clarifications from the
Regulator especially as it relates to understanding regulatory obligations, obligations to
the consumer and their collective responsibility to the sustainability of the industry.
I encourage you to garner as much as you can from this forum. I also enjoin you to
freely make contributions and raise issues that would assist the Commission in coming
up with adequate regulatory measures that would enhance development in the
communications sector of the economy. We assure you that every view expressed
would be respected and duly considered.
I thank you all for honouring this invitation and wish you happy deliberations.
Adeleke Adewolu Esq
Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management
Nigerian Communications Commission
