We’re Reviewing Licensing Framework for Spectrum Administration- Danbatta

By peter oluka

The Nigerian Communications Commission has instituted processes that will lead to a review of the licensing framework for  telecommunication spectrum administration in Nigeria.

Prof. Umar Danbatta, the executive vice chairman/CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, stated this yesterday as he presented the 23rd Inaugural Lecture at Bayero University, Kano.

Danbatta said the vision of the Commission and the importance of spectrum as a critical but limited national resource demands that it has to be managed judiciously to ensure the needs if all stakeholders are accommodated.

The NCC Chief Executive also seized the opportunity of that platform to inform members of the academic community that telecoms contributed about N1.452 trillion to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product in the first quarter of 2017.

This feat happened in spite of the challenges affecting the telecommunications sector. Some of these challenges include obstacles of securing appropriate permissions such as Right of Way (RoW) for the laying of fibre optics infrastructure. There is also the energy challenge in terms inadequate and constant supply of electrical power, vandalism of infrastructure; and multiple taxation.

He also spoke on the methodology adopted in the Commission’s Strategic Vision Plan (SVP) which is based on Honshin Kanri/Policy Deployment method, which ensures strategic goals of the NCC drive progress and action at every level of Commission’s activities.

Prof. Danbatta was a lecturer in the Department of Electrical Engineering in the Faculty of Technology at Bayero University Kano for 28 years. During this period he taught courses in telecommunications engineering and electronics, and held academic positions as Dean of the Faculty as well as Head of Department at different times.