Telecoms Sector Contributes N1.6Trn to GDP in Q2

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has revealed that the telecommunications sector contributed N1.6 trillion to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the second quarter of the year.

This disclosure was made by Prof. Umar Danbatta, executive vice chairman of the NCC, who made the statement when he visited Mr. Mohammed Bello, minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, in Abuja.

The NCC boss also revealed that telecommunications and Information Technology had been contributing about 10 per cent to the country’s GDP annually.

While noting that the country’s recorded Internet users numbered 92 million as of the end of June, Danbatta predicted that broadband penetration would hit 30 per cent by the end of 2018, further increasing the number of Internet users.

He added that telecommunications had attracted more than $68bn in private sector investment since 2001, but however stated that some challenges were still confronting the sector and preventing its development.

Among other issues, Danbatta listed disruptive effects of construction companies; increase in fees for building permits; delay in approval permits for the installation of base stations; lack of collocation guidelines as well as retroactive laws in the Federal Capital Territory, as notable challenges.

In his response, the FCT minister said he would work with the regulatory body to address the challenges.

He said, “Part of our job is to ease business and increase investment in the city and the country at large. We will support you in ensuring there is always increase in broadband penetration across the country.”