NCC: Now is the best time to invest in Nigeria’s telecom sector

The Nigerian Communications Commission [NCC] has said now is the best time to invest in the Nigeria’s telecom sector. NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman Prof Umar Garuba Danbatta, who disclosed this in Abuja when a delegation from the United States [US] embassy paid a working visit to the commission, added that foreign investors should to come to the […]

The Nigerian Communications Commission [NCC] has said now is the best time to invest in the Nigeria’s telecom sector.

NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman Prof Umar Garuba Danbatta, who disclosed this in Abuja when a delegation from the United States [US] embassy paid a working visit to the commission, added that foreign investors should to come to the country because the investment environment is now friendlier and more conducive than before.

He therefore told the US embassy delegation which was led by Rachael Atwood Mendiola to convince US investors to come and invest in Nigeria’s telecom industry as this is the best time to stake their money in the country.

“We want investors to come and invest in telecoms infrastructure  across the country. I believe they will make their money in no time. Our investment environment is becoming friendlier, our security has improved greatly and the Federal Government had promised some number of incentives for would-be investors.

“Plus we still have access gap. We still have about 200 locations across the country yet to have telecom services. This has cut off about 40million people, including people in my local government in Kano. So, investors can come in and take this opportunities.’’, he said.

On regulation of Over The Top Technology [OTT], the NCC boss said for now the technology wouldn’t be regulated in the country. OTT operators are forms like Facebook, WhatsApp, 2go, Instagram and others who ride on social media to reach their audience. “The operators are saying we should do something about the OTT. That the OTT is riding on their infrastructure to make money and all other. But it will be very difficult to regulate OTT,” Prof Danbatta said.

According to him, though NCC understands the operators’ plight “the truth is that there is nothing we can do for now’’.

The NCC EVC said he had interacted with head of telecom industry’s regulatory agencies in US and some other advanced economies and hewas indirectly told that OTT couldn’t be regulated for now