Saturday, 9 April 2016
Nigeria’s telecoms industry’s investment profile hits $32bn, says Danbatta
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says about 32 billion dollars has been invested in the nation’s telecommunications industry from Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and local investors.
The Executive Vice-Chairman of the commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta,disclosed this in Lagos at a forum organised by the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON).
Danbatta, who gave a keynote address entitled: “State of the Industry, A Regulator’s Perspective”, recalled that before 2001, few people had access to telephone and the internet.
He said only about 500,000 lines were available for a population of 90 milliaon people in Nigeria before the advent of Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM).
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration had in 2001 inaugurated GSM with the licensing of Econet and MTN.
Danbatta said internet connectivity was abysmal, while investors were reluctant to come to Nigeria.
“However, the Digital Mobile License auction of 2001 changed the story.
“Since then, over $32 billion has been invested in telecommunications industry, both from Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and local investors.
“With over 152 million active telephone lines and nearly 97 million connections to the internet, Nigeria now has 107 per cent teledensity.
“Growth of the sector is followed by massive job creation whereby several millions of Nigerians and expatriates have been gainfully employed directly and indirectly by the operators.
“Even companies and Value Added Service (VAS) providers, among others also employed.
“Indeed by the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) estimation, Nigeria telecommunications industry remained the fastest growing in the world for more than five years, so much that it is still investors’ preferred destination,” he said.
Danbatta noted that people also had access to the internet through their smart devices and banking had been made much easier because of telecommunications.
He added that people could now do banking transactions from their homes, offices and smart devices.
The NCC chief said: “Electronic commerce now boomed; as people can access to shop online from the comfort of their homes, offices and the smart devices.”
The executive vice-chairman noted that online shops like Konga, Deal Dey, Jumia, Yudala were more common place for those who wanted to shop from home.
“Jovago had been well known for hotel booking and general hospitality.
“The online shops, the banking sector among others are all powered by Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
“I want to state clearly that we have done very well considering where we are coming from, despite some bottlenecks that are recurrent.
“Although we are aware of the challenges associated with the networks, it is, however, still work in progress.
“We are also aware that the internet speed has been a major challenge; that is why we are determined to implement the National Broadband Plan (NBP) 2013 – 2018.
“The internet is expected to rise from its current 10 per cent to 30 per cent by the turn of 2018.
“A little over a year ago, the commission licensed two Infrastructure Companies (Infracos) for Lagos and North Central including Abuja.
“There are five more such licences for the South West, South South, South East, North West and North East.
“Once these licences come on stream, access to broadband will be available to many more people than we currently have,” he said.
The NCC boss said the licensing process for the 2.6 Gigahertz (GHz) had begun following the release of Information Memorandum (IM).
He added that the licensing process was expected to be concluded on May 16, adding that there are 14 slots available for grabs through an auction process.
Danbatta said the operator of 2.3GHz would soon begin to provide broadband services, towards increasing internet penetration in the country.
He assured that the commission would always “act responsibly, impartially, transparently and independently in the discharge of its statutory functions and for the common good of all Nigerians.”
FCT Elections: 2 injured, 500 ballot papers missing in Kwali
Some youths in Bako Village in Kwali Area Council of the FCT on Saturday went on rampage, following the discovery that 500 ballot papers were missing in their polling unit.
An eyewitness said that after accreditation and voting, the presiding officer of the Dabi polling unit counted the ballot papers and discovered that instead of 3000 ballot papers, he had 2,500.
”This led to arguments between the presiding officer, party agents and party supporters at the centre, resulting in violence that left two people injured.
”This situation was however, brought under control by security agents attached to the centre”, Jeremiah Isaiah said.
As at the time of this report, the centre was deserted and pockets of youths were seen discussing in hushed tones the possible effect of the violence on the voting in the area.
Also, some voters were seen milling around hopeful that the situation would be resolved soon.
”Just like a dream, the situation escalated into violence.
”The party supporters believe that the 500 missing ballot papers have been taken to a place where they will be thumb printed in favour of a particular candidate.
”This can lead to outright cancellation of the voting process in Dabi”, a security agent, who pleaded anonymity said.
A voter, Adamu Musa, expressed disappointment over his inability to vote after travelled from Minna to exercise his voting right.
”I woke up very early to drive to Dabi today only to get here and this sad occurrence took place. I am very disappointed.
”I hope it will not affect the candidate I believe will bring a turnaround and excellent standard of living to my area”, Musa said.
Shops were locked and no business activity was noticed,. But the area was peaceful as calm had returned to the village.
Meanwhile, four new polling centres in Kwali attracted very little crowd compared with the seven existing polling centres.
At one of the polling units ,Police Barrack Unit, there were two registered voters while a combined team of INEC officials, security and party agents were 13.
Speaking to NAN, Mr Dahiru Abubakar, the Electoral Officer in Kwali confirmed the incident in Dabi Villag, saying that the violence in the centre could affect the election, if the votes cast was more than the number of registered voters.
Buhari tasks Armed Forces on war against insurgency
President Muhammadu Buhari has enjoined the Nigerian Armed Forces to sustain the tempo in the ongoing war against insurgency in the North-East of the country to stamp out terrorism.
Buhari gave the task on Saturday while inaugurating the Nigerian Army Properties Limited (NAPL) mega filling station in Minna.
The president was represented by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin.
Buhari said: “I applaud the successes of the armed forces in counter insurgency operations in the North-East and urge you to sustain the tempo’’.
The president said that one of the top priorities of his administration was to enhance the capacity of the armed forces to enable them discharge their duties effectively.
“I want to emphatically state that one of the top priorities of this administration is the enhancement of capacity of the armed forces to discharge their duties effectively.
“We will continue to provide the needed support for the armed forces for efficient service delivery’’.
He also commended the zeal of the armed forces in tackling other security issues across the country.
Buhari noted that establishment of the filling station was in line with policy direction of his administration.
“This is no doubt part of current effort to re-position the Nigerian Army to meet contemporary realities.’’
Buhari said that the project would afford the army optimum utilisation of its human and material assets into practical business ventures.
He said that the measure would improve the well being of the armed forces personnel, their families and the country.
The president also said that the business venture would afford the army the opportunity to serve the country in their various areas of specialisation for enhanced service delivery.
Also speaking, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), urged Nigerian Army personnel to remain “professionally responsive and loyal to the constitution of the country’’.
Buratai commended the Federal Government for its continuous support for the armed forces in tackling insecurity in the North-East.
“The Nigerian Armed Forces have made appreciable progress in the fight against terror,’’ he said.
He later inaugurated a multi office complex and quarter guards at the Headquarters of Training and Doctrine Command, Nigerian Army, Minna`, rehabilitated by the office of the COAS.
Earlier, Brig.-Gen. Umaru Mohammed, Managing Director, NAPL, said that the business venture was an investment arm of the Nigerian Army.
Mohammed said that NAPL was planning to set up similar filling stations across the country to deliver 24-hour service to the army and the public.
The filling station, which commenced operation immediately after inauguration, has six pumps for dispensing of fuel, one pump each for dispensing diesel and kerosene.
Similarly, Mr Danjuma Mohammed, first motorist who purchased fuel from the filling station, said that the product was sold at the official pump price of N86.50 per litre.
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