By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
A stakeholder group in the ICT sector, the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters’ Association (NITRA), has commended the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, for attracting a whopping $77 billion into Nigeria’s telecom sector.
The group noted that Danbatta’s eight-year tenure of leadership at the NCC has seen the sector attract a staggering $77 billion in investments, making the sector witness a transformation and catapulting it to the forefront of the nation’s economic landscape.
The group also hailed Danbatta for overseeing a sector that now contributes a substantial 16 percent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a notable increase from its 8 percent contribution in 2015.
“The financial impact of the sector is undeniable, with a recent report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealing a significant N2.508 trillion contribution to the nation’s GDP in the first quarter of 2023, representing 14.13 percent.”
The National Chairman of NITRA, Chike Onwuegbuchi, noted that one of the key achievements observed by the ICT community is Danbatta’s bold move to embrace 5G technology, thereby positioning Nigeria as an early adopter in the global digital economy.
He said this strategic decision resulted in the generation of $820.8 million for the federal government from 5G spectrum license fees paid by leading operators.
“Furthermore, the issuance of a license to Elon Musk-owned SpaceX for Starlinks broadband services, a satellite-based wireless broadband offering with nationwide coverage potential, has been a game-changer for the industry and a testament to Danbatta’s forward-thinking approach,” he said.
The ICT group also emphasized other remarkable achievements such as the growth in telephone users, internet subscribers, and broadband users under Danbatta’s stewardship, which has soared to 218.9 million, 159.5 million, and 88.7 million, respectively, noting that these figures, along with the creation of numerous jobs, have underscored the sector’s pivotal role in Nigeria’s economic development.
The ICT group said Danbatta’s unwavering commitment to innovation, regulatory excellence, and active stakeholder engagement has set a powerful precedent for success and acknowledged the sector’s resilience in the face of challenges such as infrastructure vandalism, regulatory complexities, and power supply issues.
The ICT community has urged the federal government to replicate the telecom sector’s success in other industries to propel Nigeria into the ranks of the world’s top 20 economies. They view Danbatta’s leadership as a testament to what can be achieved with dedication, innovation, and visionary leadership.
The group further noted that the legacy of the NCC boss will be remembered in the history of Nigeria’s digital transformation.
