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To speed up indigenous content valorization in the Nigerian telecom industry, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has stated that it is promoting local investment in digital infrastructure and helping to spur competition in the provision of accessible high speed broadband infrastructure.
According to the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, the commission deems Indigenous Content Policy as an obligation on the telecoms regulator to encourage the “development of indigenous skills, technology transfer, use of indigenous manpower and indigenous manufacturing” across all spectrums of the ICT sector.
“The NCC is vigorously promoting local investment in digital infrastructure and competition in the provision of accessible high speed broadband infrastructure. This will in turn enable the commission to deliver on the stipulated targets in the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025,” said Danbatta to highlight the regulator’s commitment to helping to drive local investment by indigenous investors in the sector.
He added: “Towards achieving the mandate, the commission has developed a licensing framework to enable infrastructure companies (INFRACOs) roll out optical fibre cables for communications in the 774 Local Government Areas that make-up the federation.”
Forum focusing on implementing NPPIC
The telecoms regulator was speaking at the recent Policy Implementation Assisted Forum on the National Policy for Promotion of Indigenous Content in the Nigerian Telecommunications Sector (aka PIAFo-001). A maiden event, it held in collaboration with Business Metrics. The forum is designed to focus on policy trends on indigenous content implementation in the Nigerian telecommunications sector.
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,” said Danbatta
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According to him, the NCC has developed an action plan to help guide the implementation of the policy.
His words: “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.”
NCC opens office to implement NPPIC
Even more importantly, the NCC has set up a bureau charged with implementing the NPPIC.
“As required by the Policy, the Commission has established the Nigeria Office for Developing the Indigenous Telecoms Sector (NODITS). This Office is saddled with the responsibility of implementation of the NPPIC as well as the Executive Orders 003 and 005. Relevant portions of the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025 as well as the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) are also under the purview of this new office called NODITS,” said Danbatta at the forum.
