ipNX praises NCC’s Efficient Regulatory Services The top echelon of Management of ipNX includes key members of the Nigerian Communications Commission licensee (NCCYesterday, they visited the Commission for a courtesy call. The delegation from ipNX, led by the Group Managing Director, Ejovi Aror, praised the Management of NCC for its superlative regulatory activities, describing the Commission’s actions as marked by efficiency and effectiveness. Aror also hinted about the company’s plan to expand its operations in Nigeria, in a manner that will heighten the role of the telecom sector in the growth of the Nigerian economy. The Commission was also informed that ipNX has reached a critical juncture in its operation. ipNX is happy for it to transition from the current stage to a more strategic one. It will play an important role in the expansion of broadband infrastructures in Nigeria. “Therefore, we are here to solicit your support for our plan to expand our businesses because we are at the threshold of closing a chapter and moving onto another, particularly in expanding broadband infrastructure which is critical to national development’Aror expressed unmistakable optimism. Aror also provided information to NCC management regarding some of its Corporate Social Responsibility programmes. Aror says that the most significant and important of them all is the free Internet access provided to schools. Lagos and Oyo states Aror also stressed the ipNX readiness for such services in other parts of the nation, especially in schools, given the importance ICT plays in educational development. Responding to the ipNX delegation, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, who was represented by the Commission’s Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management (ECSM), Adeleke Adewolu, thanked ipNX for the visit and for the testimony about how NCC’s regulatory activities have caused growth in leaps and bounds in the fortunes of the telecom ecosystem. Adewolu declared that NCC is particularly gratified by the remarkable and quantifiable impact of Commission’s activities on the economy, including increase in the sectoral contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Adewolu promised that the encouraging words of ipNX’s delegation will spur the Commission to put in more efforts towards achieving its mandate. Adeleke, recalling the history of the development of Nigeria’s telecom industry, put into context the landmarks that have occurred in this sector. She declared that Decree 75 was the first to establish the industry. Commission was a tremendous feat. NCC Executive Commission also stated that it was a remarkable feat of courage for the Federal Government to liberalize the telecom sector in 2000. Adewolu stated that this action caused an uncommon liberalization, which resulted in a rare leap of democratization in access to telephone services. The number of fixed lines that existed in 1992 was just a handful. Now, there are over 200. Today, there are over a million subscribers.
Nudging ipNX toward the growth and development of the telecom sector. The ECSM stated that both the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak and the ability of Nigeria to withstand it had been demonstrated by the ECSM. Because most social and economic activities are now conducted online, the importance of telecom is crucial. “So we are delighted about your interest in expanding broadband infrastructure”, Adewolu It was said to highlight the importance of broadband infrastructure for human survival at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ECSM informed visitors that the Commission, under the supervision of Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy is available and willing to work with stakeholders in order to achieve the objectives. Objectives of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, 2020–2030; and Nigerian National Broadband Plan, 2020–2025. Adewolu, based on the correlation between increased broadband infrastructure and economic GDP, said that Management of NCC is open to collaboration with all stakeholders. Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos) are used to increase broadband access, particularly to rural areas. Other members of the Commission’s Management Staff were present at the reception for ipNX delegation. These included Usman Mamman Deputy Director Licensing and Authorisation, and Afureiloka Special Assistant on Legal matters to the Commission. EVC; Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan (Head Online Media), who represented Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Director Public Relations; Abubakar Kurfi as Assistant Director, Licensing and Authorisation and Quassim Odumbaku, the Special Assistant of the ECSM.
