The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has highlighted some of the efforts it put into the country’s telecommunications industry to ensure the promotion of indigenous solutions, which has in turn reduced capital flight.
One of such efforts is the vigorous promotion of local investment in digital infrastructure and competition in the provision of accessible high-speed broadband infrastructure, which has resulted in the Commission delivering on the stipulated targets in the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025.
Speaking at the maiden edition of the Policy Implementation Assisted Forum on the National Policy for Promotion of Indigenous Content in the Nigerian Telecommunications Sector (aka PIAFo-001), which was hosted by Business Metrics, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof Umar Danbatta disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari, recently presented the National Policy for the Promotion of Indigenous Content in the Nigerian Telecom Sector.
“The Policy (a.k.a NPPIC) seeks to accelerate the pace of indigenous digital capacity development and thereby enhance national competitiveness and prosperity for indigenous/local players in Nigeria,” Prof. Danbatta, who was represented by Engr. Babagana Digima, Team Lead of the newly created Nigeria Office for Developing the Indigenous Telecoms Sector (NODITS) said.
Engr. Babagana, who is a Deputy Director at the Commission, noted that in the policy document, there are clearly defined objectives identified for each focus area with the expected significant impact that a concerted implementation would have on the sector and the national economy.
In addition, the Commission has developed an action plan to help guide the implementation of the policy. to this effect, the commission has articulated several targets and high-impact interventions, which are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-based to address the major policy areas. the focus policy areas are manufacturing, software development, compliance monitoring, licensing, funding, people, and research & development for digital innovation and entrepreneurship.
Meanwhile, Business Metrics Editor and Chairman, Organising Committee of the forum, Mr. Omobayo Azeez in his opening remarks at the e-conference, has explained that the forum is a brainchild of concerns arising from perceived poor implementation of policies in Nigeria.
He said the virtual gathering focuses on the National Policy for the Promotion of Indigenous Content in the Nigerian Telecommunication Sector, and to further maintain that focus, it is themed: Facilitating Policy Implementation to Deliver Value in the Nigerian Telecoms Sector.
“Our desire is to change this order of poetic policy pronouncement and prosaic execution by creating a midpoint interface between the government and private sector players, where policies can be dissected, digested and driven to effective implementation, and later appraised using measurable metrics to assess their success over time,” he said.
