The Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, (Professor Umar
Garba Danbatta),
The Executive Commissioner, Stakeholders ‘Management, (Mr. Adeleke Adewole),
Members of the Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission,
The Executive Management and Staff of the Nigerian Communications Commission,
The Chief Executive Officers and Representatives of Licensees,
Telecoms Industry Stakeholders,
Gentlemen of the Press,
All other protocols duly observed,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen!
On behalf of the Nigerian Communications Commission, it is a great pleasure, to welcome
you all, to this special event, of the Talk to the Regulator Forum – An NCC
Stakeholders ‘Consultative Forum for Selected Licensees in the South-South Zone,
holding in Yenogoa, Bayelsa State.
Particularly of note, is that, this event, is coming at the heels of the licensing of the 5G
network, and the effort by stakeholders to ensure the availability, accessibility and
affordability of telecommunications services to all Nigerians.
This event, is the second, in the series of the Nigerian Communications Commission`s
engagement with licensees, in the South-South, having held similar forum, in Port
Harcourt for the licensees in the South-East and the South-South geopolitical zones in
2021, with a brief hiatus in 2022, due to unforeseen circumstances.
Today`s event, provides a veritable platform for interaction between the regulator and
the licensees, on one hand, and other industry stakeholders, on the other hand. It is a
rare occasion that would enable the Commission to identify the challenges confronting
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the industry from the pragmatic point of view of the industry players. In other words,
licensees are expected to engage the regulator, through robust discussions, with a view
to identifying the various challenges affecting their operations, while making suggestions,
requiring regulatory interventions, within the mandate of the NCC. As it were, this forum,
would afford the Licensees, an opportunity to be educated on topical issues of concern,
which would help them comply to the licensing terms and conditions, in the various
license categories.
On behalf of the Nigerian Communications Commission, I will like to seize this
opportunity, to express gratitude to the Licensees from the South-South Zone, for
honouring the invitation, to participate in the Yenogoa Edition of the 2023 Talk to The Regulator Forum. You are enjoined to take advantage of the opportunity provided by
this forum, to engage in robust discussions, while proffering solutions to certain topical
issues of concern that would be raised, in the course of this engagement.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, there is no doubt that the NCC values the views
and contributions of its stakeholders. It is our sincere hope that the views and
contributions that would arise from this session would aid the Commission in the
development and advancement of the telecommunications industry.
On this note, on behalf of the Nigerian Communications Commission, I wish you all, a
fruitful deliberation.
Thank you.
Venny Eze
Zonal Controller,
Nigerian Communications Commission,
Port Harcourt Zonal Office
