How Juwah Survived Power Play for NCC’s Top Job

Despite the organized opposition to his appointment, Dr. Eugene Ikemefuna Juwah was last week handed a rare green chance to prove he possess the aptitude to move the telecommunications industry forward but skeptics are still watching with cautious optimism, Nigeria CommunicationsWeek can now reveal.
He was finally confirmed as executive vice chairman and chief executive officer of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC).
From the drama at the Senate which culminated in the sacking of the upper house’s Committee on Communications headed by Sen. Sylvester Anyanwu over allegations of bribery and failure to carry other members of the committee along during the screening of Juwah to pressure from telecom companies and some individuals, it appeared the President’s nominee was going to be rejected.
The Senate had spent better part of Tuesday and Wednesday undecided over the fate of Juwah, Peter Igoh, chairman of NCC; Mr. Okechukwu Itanyi as executive commissioner and Alhaji Mohammed Bintube as non-executive commissioner.
The Committee on Communications was said to have been presented with petition allegedly written by certain Mr. Mohammed A. Talle and Mr. H. T. Ajikobi against Juwah
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered that elsewhere; some Nigerians questioned his appointment given his antecedents and association with MTS First Wireless, one of the pioneer telecom operators, now moribund.
It was also gathered that there were intense lobby to unduly prolong the confirmation of the nominees amidst impending vacation of the Senate.
Juwah believed to be connected with High Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs, also former director of MTS First Wireless and a close associate of President Goodluck Jonathan got a reprieve with the intervention of David Mark, Senate President.
Mark who expressed displeasure at the intervening variables against the nominees ordered an open screening on the floor of the Senate and sacked the Anyanwu led Committee on Communications.
It is also believed that Lulu-Briggs who founded Moni Pulo Limited (MPL), a major indigenous player in the oil and gas industry exerted his influence in ensuring that Juwah and company were confirmed.
Juwah, former chief executive officer of Cititel Networks Communications Ltd since 2005 steps into the oversized shoes left by Dr. Ernest Ndukwe who bowed out gracefully after completing a 10-year in office of five years tenure each at the NCC.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered that Juwah cannot afford to fail given the circumstances that brought him into the exalted seat.
Early supporters including Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (Atcon) and African Telecommunication Development Initiative (ATDI) have applauded the appointments.
On his part, Juwah appear poised to shame critics.
Described as taciturn, urbane but boldly courageous, Juwah 58, has also worked for ICL, Mike Adenuga‘s firm that could not secure a licence for GSM operation in 2001.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek also gathered that Juwah, from Delta state is said to be technically sound having studied computer and electronic engineering at post graduate level.
He has over 30 years experience in Information Technology and Telecommunication, with more than 20 years experience on directorial level and knowledgeable in digital exchanges, base station, data communication and subscriber access networks construction and operations having played coordinating roles in the set up of an ETACS, GSM and CDMA Mobile Networks in Nigeria.
Juwah is also an experienced Network Operations director with profound practical knowledge of pricing, billing, interconnection, licensing and regulatory affairs and network fraud control within the Nigerian Environment.