With the fourth industrial revolution picking up steam and incorporating key technology growth vehicles such as Cloud computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), data analytics and Machine Learning, among others, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has observed that Nigeria is not lacking in key Policy and Regulatory frameworks and instruments which will enable it play a leading role in powering the 4th Industrial Revolution.
Delivering a keynote at the 3rd Discourse Series of The Advocaat Law Practice held virtually on Thursday, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta noted that Nigeria through the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and the NCC has put policies and mechanisms in place to ensure that the country takes an apex position in the global digital economy index.
According to the Commission, these strides will enable the telecommunications sector provide the infrastructure backbone for powering the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Nigeria. “We are firmly committed to ensure that Nigerians in Nigeria play a leading role in Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, Internet of Things (IoT), Robotics, Blockchain, Autonomous Vehicle, Drones and other innovative technologies which are now driving growth and national competitiveness,” the EVC asserted.
Prof. Danbatta, who was represented by the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, NCC, Barr. Adeleke Adewolu, spoke of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy Policy (2020-2030) which boasts of eight (8) pillars designed to, amongst others, enable Nigeria become a leading player in the global digital economy; provide a catalyst to facilitate the diversification of the economy; and accelerate the attainment of the key national objectives of improving security, reducing corruption and expanding the economy.
“Similarly, the Nigerian National Broadband Policy (2020-2024) clearly highlights the various implementation strategies that would aid the pervasive inclusion and rollout of broadband services across the country whilst also developing a robust and holistic digital economy,” he further noted.
Other initiatives in place to achieve the goals include the setting up of NCC’s Strategic Management Plan (SMP 2020-2024 or “ASPIRE 2024”) which is consolidated on the earlier articulated vision in the Strategic Vision Plan and 8-Point Agenda. “We have responded to the policy goals highlighted above to harness the immense socio-economic benefits of ICT for national development; to ensure that ICT infrastructure are up to the standard necessary to provide ubiquitous broadband services in Nigeria; and to align the Commission’s regulatory efforts with the aforementioned Policy Instruments, as well as the growth strategies of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to ensure Growth, Inclusiveness, and Sustainability. We have recorded a number of significant achievements in this regard.”
He listed these achievements to include the licensing of six (6) infrastructure companies (InfraCos) to speed up the deployment of broadband infrastructure throughout Nigeria; the provision of training and supporting of the public institutions with ICT interventions like School Knowledge Centers, ADAPTI, among others.
Further on the achievements, the NCC boss disclosed that has also enhanced physical infrastructure, noting that in the last five (5) years, the Commission has expanded broadband penetration from 6% to 42.06 as at February 2021, while access gap clusters have been reduced from 207 to 114; and Fibre Optic coverage has increased from 47,000km to 54,725 km, while Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) for 3G and 4G deployments have increased from 30,000 to 53,460.
He further said the creation of a full-fledged Department of Digital Economy has been created to support Federal Government’s Digital Economy agenda. “We also increased funding of Telecom Research to N336.4m and have endowed four (4) Professorial Chairs. We have also commenced requisite engagements on 5G deployments and some of our licensees have already carried out trials.”
Addressing the question of regulation of disruptive technologies without hampering innovation, the EVC said that the NCC, like all other regulators globally, is carefully studying it. “For now, we have maintained a sharp focus on critical cross-cutting aspects like consumer protection, enhancement of competition, data protection and enhancement of trust in digital platforms through the prevention of cybercrimes and other abuses.”
Prof. Danbatta who maintained that the challenge before Nigerians today is to ensure that “no one is left behind” in the evolving digital future, by enlisting the full co-operation of all critical Stakeholders, “we must take drastic and deliberate measures by reawakening our consciousness to the power of technology in this 4th Industrial Revolution, where technologically advanced nations are the ones dictating the pace of the global economy.
He reiterated the events explanation that “the three previous industrial revolutions … have liberated mankind from animal production, made mass production possible, and brought about digital capabilities to billions of people. The fourth industrial revolution brings with it the potential to connect billions of people to digital networks ad dramatically improve the efficiency of organisations”.
While noting that the Commission is keenly aware of the critical need to harness the contributions of all critical stakeholders across all industry platforms and professional groups to ensure that Nigerians fully participate in the Fourth Industrial Revolution as drivers and innovators, Prof. Danbatta highlighted the needed tools to maximizing the potentials of the 4th Industrial Revolution.
According to him, these include articulating effective and forward-looking Policy Instruments to guide the country’s emergence into the future digital landscape; ensuring the ubiquitous presence, the seamless operation and the cost-effective availability of communications infrastructure which will power the digital aspirations of all sectors; and the deployment of effective regulatory instruments, which will harness the efforts of all critical stakeholders to derive the utmost benefits from the 4th Industrial revolution.
He assured that the NCC is dedicated to guiding Nigeria into the 4th industrial revolution, and called for Nigerians to support this move into the future.
