The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has disclosed that the country’s telecom Subsector has remained a major actor, contributing massively to the country’s national economy in the last few years.
The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta stated in a remark he delivered last Friday at the 2019 annual conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Pulishers (GOCOP), in Lagos.
In the remark, delivered on behalf of Prof. Danbatta by Mr. Omoniyi Ibietan, Head of Online Media & Special Publications at NCC, the telecom regulator noted that the Nigerian telecoms industry, in the past 18 years, has recorded tremendous growth with a cumulative investment profile of over $70 billion.
“At 11.39 percent contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the telecom subsector remains a major actor in the national economy,” he said.
Putting out more figures, the Commission disclosed that as of today, the number of active telephone lines in the country is about 175million, representing a teledensity of 91.65 per cent. The number of Internet users is 122.6 million, while broadband penetration currently stands at 35 percent.
The Commission added that the huge positive impacts of telecoms sector – either voice or data resonate in other sectors of the economy and in all the aspects of our daily interactions.
Meanwhile, at the event with the theme ‘Economy, Security and National Development: The Way Forward in Nigeria,’ the commission revealed that as an independent telecom regulatory authority, it has been doing a lot to ensure the security of lives and property for economic development.
It said with respect to SIM Registration and its connection with national security, the National ldentity Management Commission (NIMC) established under the NIMC 2007 Act has released the National Identification Number Regulations 2017. The regulation provides that a person must provide his/her National Identity Number (NIN) in order to register a telephone SIM card.
According to NCC, it has provided mechanisms for compliance and collaboration with all stakeholders in this regards. Also, it is engaged in continuous verification exercise of the SIM data collected by the MNOs and their SIM registration agents across the country to deliver on its mandate.