As IoT beckons, Pantami assures of proactive regulation

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ibrahim Pantami,
today (14th July 2022) in Lagos, assured the nation that Nigeria’s telecom
regulatory framework has been designed to address the challenges that may arrive
with the advancement of the Internet of Things (IoT) in the country.

Pantami, who spoke at the twin event – Stakeholders Consultative Forum on
Regulatory Roadmap for IoT Ecosystem in Nigeria, hosted by the Nigerian
Communications Commission (NCC); and presentation of two books authored by
the Minister, declared that Nigeria has already exhibited its preparedness to harness
the potentials of this new service, as demonstrated in the reduction in incidences of
cybercrimes in Nigeria over the past two years.
He emphasized the need for the type of consultations and brainstorming being
hosted for IoT, as the International Data Cooperation (IDC) revealed that, “By
2025, there will be about 46.1 billion IoT devices that are going to be
interconnected globally…and through this connection, the data to be generated will
be up to 79.4 zeta bites.”

At a gathering that featured presentations by local and international experts, with
the Secretary of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Houlin Zhao,
in virtual participation, Pantami said IoT is crucial to present day emergent
technologies considering its connectedness to devices in facilitating productivity,
minimize waste as well as ensure a faster decision making process where massive
amount of data can be analysed and presented for decision making.
Earlier in an address of welcome, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive
Officer of the NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, explained that, in the process of
undertaking its responsibility of regulation, the NCC has made it a consistent

practice to interact with experts and key players in the industry on how best to
facilitate the development of robust regulations for emergent technologies in the
country.
Danbatta said this consultation presents a unique opportunity to appraise the
emergence and future deployment of IoT products and services for the benefit of
consumers in Nigeria.
In his goodwill message and review of one of the books authored by Pantami titled
‘Datafication of Society to Foster an Internet Economy,’ the ITU scribe,
commended Nigeria’s cooperation within the international telecommunications
community and how Pantami assisted in the facilitation of programmes of the
ITU, including his recent chairmanship of the World Summit on Information
Society at the ITU Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
In the review of Pantami’s second book titled: ‘Cybersecurity: Initiatives for
Securing a Country’, Prof. Mike Hinchey of the University of Limerik, Ireland,
who doubled as keynote speaker at the event, commended the Minister, stating
that the book is a bold statement that Africa is no longer waiting on the
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry side-lines but now
creating content for its institutions.
In a panel discussion, featuring experts from various sectors of the ICT industry,
the challenges and prospects of IoT within the Nigerian telecom ecosystem were
reviewed, with a view to preparing the country for the future application of IoT
products and services.

SIGNED
Reuben Muoka
Director, Public Affairs
14th July 2022