TECH DIGEST – 21st Century Technologies L​​imited (21CTL), the foremost Information Communication Technology firm in Nigeria, has committed to Ogun State Digital Economic Empowerment Project (OGDEP).

The Company is partnering with Ogun state government to execute the all-important project hence the commitment of close to $75 Million to the project in expectation that the initiative would see the economy of Ogun state grow by additional $100 billion.

The Ogun State Digital Economy Infrastructure project was flagged off by Vice President of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo in the presence of Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami (represented); representatives from the National Assembly and other industry stakeholders.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Osinbajo commended Ogun state for taking a bold step in spearheading the move for an overall digital economy in the country.

The Vice President who launched the project virtually, acknowledged a urgent need to democratise access to internet in the country, adding that digital technology is the future of all aspects of human existence.

He said, “This project is a critical component of Mr. President’s objective of broadband connectivity for all by 2023. This ambition is now enshrined in our Economic Sustainability Plan. As part of the national commitment to make broadband connectivity available to all, you would recall that in 2017, the State Governors under the auspices of the National Economic Council (NEC) in 2017 agreed to harmonize right of way charges which is presently being worked on.

“In another demonstration of government’s commitment , the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy launched the National Broadband Plan which is designed to deliver data download speeds across Nigeria of a minimum 25Mbps in urban areas and 10Mbps in rural areas, with effective coverage available to at least 90% of the population by 2025 at affordable prices”.

Osinbajo also commended 21st Century Technologies for its huge commitments to the project , adding that this would revolutionize every aspect of the socio-economic life of Ogun state.

Earlier, Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, stated that the strategy of OGDEP was to provide broadband connectivity to every corner of Ogun State.

“This is a joint project between our administration and our partner, 21st Century Technologies Limited , to deliver fibre-optic cables and mechanics across all our 20 Local Government Areas within the next two years.

“The first phase of OGDEP will establish a fibre optic network ring around the entire State that will ensure connectivity particularly for key educational institutions, government agencies and residents in unconnected and under-connected areas”.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Vice Chairman/CEO of 21st Century Technologies limited, Wale Ajisebutu affirmed that the initiative would see all business sectors and citizens of Ogun state operate digitally, using fibre networks infrastructure, knowledge infrastructure and marketing and network.

He said, “The network infrastructure will facilitate GSM services, financial inclusion , data storage, development of innovative ideas by startups and universities.

“This would also enable industries while placing Ogun state in the heart of the 4th industrial revolution where science, technology and social media are rapidly transforming the world “

He urged all hands to be on deck to ensure the project achieve enviable success.

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TECH DIGEST – The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta has been penciled to receive the prestigious Zik Prize in the Professional Leadership category in Lagos, next week.

According to a statement issued and signed by Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Director of Public Affairs at NCC, the award will be presented to Danbatta by Public Policy Research and Analysis Centre (PPRAC), during an elaborate ceremony slated for Sunday, December 6, 2020 at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos State by 6 p.m.

This year’s event also coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Zik Prize series, and will be chaired by Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, while the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe is to function as the royal father of the day.

The PPRAC had, during a virtual conference on Thursday, September 24, 2020, named Danbatta and the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of United Bank for Africa (UBA), Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, as the joint winners in the category.

Danbatta, Uzoka and other prominent personalities who emerged in different categories of the Zik Awards, were carefully selected through a rigorous and meticulous process for their notable contributions to national development, said Prof. Jubril Aminu, Chairman of the PPRAC in a statement on the grand award ceremony.

Described by the organisers as a square peg in a square hole, Danbatta, through dint of hardwork as NCC boss, was acknowledged to have led the charge to drive Nigeria’s industrial revolution and knowledge-based economy leveraging telecommunications.

According to them, telecommunications’ contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria has grown by 70 per cent from 2015 to 2020, whilst broadband penetration has increased significantly to over 45 per cent.

“Danbatta’s leadership has enhanced transparency and innovation in the sector, such that recently, NCC was acknowledged by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), as one of Africa’s foremost regulators,” they observed.

Zik Prize center was set up in 1994 in honour of the first President of Nigeria, late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, with a view to encouraging and nurturing quality leadership in Africa and in the diaspora.

The impending event literally puts Danbatta in the prestigious category of eminent intra-continental figures so honoured by the foundation, like late former President of Ghana, Jerry Rawligs (1995); Late President Nelson Mandela, President Yonweri Muzeveni of Uganda and former Chairman of NCC’s Governing Board, Alhaji Ahmed Joda.

Among this year’s winners, however, are the Senate President, Dr. Ahmed Lawal and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustafa, who won in political leadership and public service categories, respectively.

Others are Governor of Borno State, Babagana Umara Zulum, his counterparts from Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and Oyo State Governor, Engr. Oluseyi Makinde, who have bagged the award for good governance.

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TECH DIGEST – The Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, has said 5G, when fully deployed will provide increased speed and bandwidth as well as provide deeper coverage to reach people in rural communities.

Danbatta, said this, while citing a recent landmark economy study conducted by Qualcomm, which stated that 5G would affect the global economy and drive growth exponentially.

Danbatta, who spoke through the Director, Public Affairs of NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, during a capacity building workshop organised by NCC for telecoms reporters in Lagos recently, however said there had been a lot of falsehoods and misinformation peddled about the health and safety implications of deploying 5G technology.

While allaying such fears, Danbatta said the recently published Draft Consultation Document on the Deployment of Fifth Generation (5G) Mobile Technology in Nigeria by the NCC, would open further research into 5G deployment, while insisting that the Commission has not concluded plans for the deployment of Fifth Generation (5G) network.

According to him, “Nigeria only undertook 5G trials in selected locations within the country in collaboration with an operator in 2019. The trial, among others was to study and observe any health or security challenges the 5G network might present. The Commission also has an ongoing engagement with the academia while at the same time funding 5G related research projects, all in a bid to ensure the nation is provided with the best in terms of research findings and policy input to drive the implementation and deployment of 5G technology in Nigeria.”

Due to its sheer scale and scope, the International Telecoms Union (ITU), also predicted that 5G would accelerate the achievements of all the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) from affordable and clean energy to zero hunger.

“Many Nigerians including citizens in more civilized countries were hooked on the notion that the introduction of 5G technology was the reason behind the spread of the novel COVID-19 Pandemic. This misconception was even made worse because those saddled with the responsibility of informing, educating and enlightening the average Nigerian telecom consumers were also bereft of the knowledge of this new technology and hitched a ride on the band wagon of doubters,” Danbatta said.

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TECH DIGEST – Investments in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector increased by $32bn in the last five years, the Nigerian Communications Commission, announced on Monday.

According to NCC, investments in the industry rose from $38bn to $70bn within the five-year period.

The commission stated this in a statement issued in Abuja by its spokesperson, Ikechukwu Adinde, while announcing the recognition of NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Umar Danbatta, at this year’s edition of the Nigeria Tech Innovation and Telecoms Awards for his role in advancing broadband development.

The statement read in part, “In the last five years, under Danbatta leadership, telecoms investment grew from around $38bn to over $70bn currently, with appreciable remittances in spectrum fees and operating surplus by the NCC into the Federal Government Consolidated Revenue Fund.”

The commission also stated that broadband penetration increased from six per cent in 2015 to 45.43 per cent in September 2020.

It said basic active internet subscription grew from 90 million to 143.7 million, while active voice subscription increased from 151 million to 205.25 million during the same period with tele-density also reaching 107.53 per cent as of the end of September.

“The last five years have seen the number of licensed infrastructure companies increasing from two in 2015 to six currently,” the NCC stated.

It added, “The InfraCos are to deploy broadband infrastructure, on a wholesale basis in the 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria.

“The commission is currently reviewing the framework for the licensing of InfraCo to ensure sustainable funding options for effective implementation of the proposed national fibre project towards increasing broadband penetration to 70 per cent target, as set in the new national broadband plan by 2025.”

It said the ongoing review of the InfraCo framework was to cater for the delays in take-off, change in exchange rate, supply chain and other challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic with respect to InfraCo implementation.

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TECH DIGEST – The Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, has underscored the centrality of economic diversification and ethical leadership at all levels of government as panacea to the current economic headwinds in Nigeria.
Danbatta stated this when he delivered a paper titled: “Ethical Leadership as an Instrument for National Sustainability in the Post-Oil Nigerian Economy. A Public Sector Perspective” at a two-day hybrid (online and onsite) Annual Directors Conference (ADC) organized by the Institute of Directors (IoD), Nigeria earlier this week, where he also emphasised that the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) or digital age promises greater revenue-earning potential to the nation.

Danbatta, who went on a memory lane to discuss Nigeria’s economic shift to oil revenue following discovery of oil in the 1970s, leading to the relegation of agriculture, which was hitherto the source of Nigeria’s foreign exchanges earnings, said the Federal Government has realised that Nigeria cannot be solely dependent on oil earnings anymore, hence the decision of the FG to explore ways of diversifying the economy.

Economic diversification, according to Danbatta, is the process of shifting an economy away from a single income source toward multiple sources from a growing range of sectors and markets. He said this is with a view to increasing productivity, creating jobs and providing the basis for sustained economic growth.

The EVC said though, the Federal Government has made several attempts at economic diversification such attempts have had little impact as majority of them have folded up, whilst others are finding it difficult to survive, just as he noted that the situation has further been compounded by the recent economic recession and the COVID-19 pandemic, which adversely affected the global economy, including Nigeria.

Danbatta stated that countries and societies have evolved by finding new ways of doing things to ensure economic sustainability, which has led to the first, second and third industrial revolutions.

“Currently, countries are exploiting the 4IR in order to diversify their economies. The fourth industrial revolution, which has also been referred to as 4IR or Industry 4.0, describes the age of intelligence and encompasses technologies like high-speed mobile Internet, Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation, the use of big data analytics and cloud computing,” he said.

While highlighting the major constraints facing Nigeria with regard to the fourth industrial revolution to include inadequacy of digital skills, infrastructure deficit and enabling environment, Danbatta, emphasised that the 4IR is the information and digital economy age, which, if properly enhanced and exploited, can unleash a new phase of massive revenue generation and wealth creation for Nigeria in the post-oil era.

“This is because while natural resources such as oil, gas, and so on, are finite, data and information are infinite. Furthermore, the possibilities provided by the 4IR are limitless and can generate employment for Nigeria’s teeming youth population Therefore, in order to achieve economic growth using the 4IR there is the need for ethical leadership,” he said.

Zeroing on the centrality of ethical leadership in the public sector, Danbatta said in order to achieve national sustainability in the post-oil Nigerian economy, the highest standard of ethical leadership is required of all leaders especially in the public sector.

“Ethical leadership is essential for sustainable development of a Country. Nurturing an ethical leadership culture is essential and this will determine the transformation and overall development of the Country. Nigeria stands at the threshold of history and would definitely need ethical leaders to ensure sustainability in the post-oil era as government takes positive steps to diversify the economy,” he added.

The IoD Nigeria Annual Directors’ Conference is the Institute’s flagship event, which is attended by captains of industry and directors in both private and public sectors of the Nigerian economy. It is a forum where contemporary issues affecting leadership and corporate governance of Nigeria’s businesses are x-rayed and global best practice solutions provided by professionals and practitioners in corporate administrations.

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TECH DIGEST – The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, has commended its media stakeholders for their role in accurate, timely and effective reportage of the telecommunications sector.
Danbatta gave the commendation while declaring open a two-day media capacity building programme organised under the auspices of the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) on Tuesday, October 27, 2020 at the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), Abuja.
“I must applaud every member of NITRA for working assiduously to provide coverage for our activities, as well as provide a platform for our narratives in terms of the various policy initiatives and actions taken to support the national economy. Without your continuous cooperation, understanding and professionalism, the Nigerian audience would not have been properly informed about the activities of the NCC,” he said.
Represented by the Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Danbatta stated that the ICT industry in Nigeria is, indeed, the most dynamic and most resilient, as it continues to evolve by the day.
According to him, with the shutdown of almost every sector of the economy since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, telecoms sector has continued to provide government and businesses the platform to operate and transact online to ensure that the country’s developing economy is sustained.
The EVC, however, noted that the advancements in ICT have reshaped every facet of human endeavour from learning, teaching and communication to other sectors of the economy.
He said the dynamic nature of ICT industry has, thus, informed the NCC’s decision to continuously train journalists, with a view to equipping them with the necessary skills they need to report the industry, adding that the misconceptions and misinformation that have trailed the proposed rollout of Fifth Generation (5G) network in the country is a case in point.
“Therefore, we will not relent in our quest for an improved ICT industry in Nigeria and in pursuit of this objective, we will periodically assemble seasoned professionals to educate and enlighten you on the latest trends in the global ICT industry,” he said.
He said while the training is in line with the Federal Government’s recognition of the important role journalism has played in the development of Nigeria’s ICT industry, it is also consistent with one of the critical pillars of NCC’s strategic plan on strategic partnership and collaboration with various stakeholders, including the media.
He urged the participants to take the training seriously and take advantage of it to expand their horizons of knowledge on the ICT industry.
“This is very necessary so that when you report events or activities relating to the industry, you are able to translate them into a language that the common man will readily understand for the overall development of the industry,” Danbatta said.
“It is our duty and responsibility to ensure that whatever we want to introduce to the Nigerian telecoms space is well understood by Nigerians and all those who make use of our telecoms services and the media forms a part of our critical external stakeholders to make this happen,” the EVC added.

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TECH DIGEST – The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, has told the House Committee on Telecommunications how the telecoms agency contributed to the revenue drive of the Federal Government by generating and remitting N344.71 billion to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) in the last five years.
Danbatta stated this while briefing the Committee members, led by their Chairman, Hon. (Prince) Akeem Adeyemi, during a legislative oversight function on the Commission in Abuja on Wednesday, October 28, 2020.

The EVC, who attributed the successes of the Commission in the last five years to the harmonious relationship between the Commission and the National Assembly, said such relationship, the diligent oversight by the lawmakers and necessary legislative support have brought forth a lot of dividends for the industry.

“Through the support of the lawmakers, especially the House of Representatives Committee on Telecommunications, which the NCC leadership has worked with in the last five years, the Commission has been able to generate and remit N344.71 billion to Federal Government Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) from spectrum fees and operating surplus,” he said.

Danbatta stated that telecoms sector’s contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased from 8.5 percent in 2015 to 14.30 percent as of the second quarter of 2020.

In financial value, the 14.30 per cent translates to N2.272 trillion in Q2. He also said that telecoms investment grew from around $38 billion in 2015 to over $70 billion currently.

Speaking further, Danbatta said the NCC is promoting financial inclusion by encouraging the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to actively participate in providing financial services towards actualising FG’s 80 per cent financial inclusion target by 2020.

​ NCC says subscribers’ SIM registration data undergoing scrubbing, verification
According to him, through the collaboration of critical stakeholders as the National Assembly, the NCC has been able to increase broadband penetration from 6 percent in 2015 to 45.43 per cent as of September, 2020 while basic active internet subscription grew from 90 million to 143.7 million.

“Between 2015 and September, 2020, active voice subscription has increased from 151 million to 205.25 percent million with a teledensity standing at 107.53 percent as at end of September, 2020. We are also empowering and protecting the consumers and ensuring we are able to sanitise the industry of improperly-registered Subscriber identification Module (SIM) cards through our impartial regulatory approach,” Danbatta said.

To continue to collaboratively advance the development of the industry, Danbatta listed key areas of collaboration with the House Committee, going forward.

These, according to the EVC, include speedy passage of the Commission’s budget, enhancing mutual working relationship and knowledge transfer sessions/capacity building for Committee members for better understanding of the workings of the Commission and the industry.

Meanwhile, Hon. Adeyemi, in his address, said the over sight function was in line with relevant sections of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution, as amended, which empowers the House to carry out its role of checks and balances on the executive arm of government under which the NCC, as a Federal agency, falls.

The committee commended the leadership of the Commission for its transparency in ensuring remittances to CRF of the Federal Government, considering the current revenue drive of the government.

The committee urged the NCC to sustain its current template of ensuring effective regulation of the telecoms sector in a manner that would be more mutually beneficial to the industry players, the consumers of the telecoms services and to the Nigerian government.

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TECH DIGEST– The Nigeria Communications Commission has expressed concern over the activities of the purchase and activation of unregistered SIM cards in Kano State, declaring the act as a grievous threat to personal safety and national security architecture.

Executive Vice-Chairman of the commission, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta who gave the warning at the weekend while briefing journalists in Kano regretted the recent proliferation of the heinous crime across the country with Kano fast becoming a breeding ground.

Professor Danbatta who revealed the arrest of another syndicate who was found in possession of hundreds of unregistered SIM card in Kano maintained that NCC has widened its intelligent dragnet to capture the clicks peddling the circulation just as he reminded of existing legal implication and penalty against any service provider who declined to deactivate unregistered SIM on their networks.

“ Let me appeal to subscribers never to purchase unregistered SIM or when purchased they refuse to register. It is advisable to buy registered SIM or register the SIM the very moment you purchase. It is clearly illegal to activate unregistered SIM and it is very important for people to know the security risk.

“ We have directed the service providers to ensure a conducive atmosphere is provided for people to register their SIM and I want to believe they are doing so. NCC will not rest until we apprehend those who specialize in this crime. Security agents are working round the clock to ensure they are brought to book”.

Although Professor Danbatta disclosed a record of 43.3 per cent broadband penetrations and 88 million network subscribers as at August 2020, he acknowledged challenges Nigerians are still encountering on the high cost of data tariff and poor connectivity in some parts of the country.

The NCC boss however assured that the commission has set 2020/2025 a new framework to provide efficient connectivity through deployment of fibre networks to strength broadband connectivity across the country.

He explained that the government is presently addressing challenges of fibre capacity that will channel network from Lagos down to the hinterland and issuance of an operational license to more companies that will support the existing firms to rebuild the communication infrastructure.

The executive vice-chairman stressed that NCC will soon complete the construction of the digital park in Kano and other geopolitical zones to create employment opportunities for teeming youths through the building of requisite digital skills.

When fully operational, Professor Danbatta posited that the park will develop the digital capacity of the youths to produce mobile applications for the growing telecom and ICT industries thereby boosting economic stability and reducing youth unrest in the country.

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TECH DIGEST – The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has granted approval for two mobile network operators (MNOs) to carry out trial on National Roaming Service for a period of three months, commencing from August 1, 2020 and to end by October 31, 2020.

The two telecoms companies are Mobile Telecommunication Network (MTN) Nigeria and the Emerging Markets Telecommunication Service Limited (EMTS), trading as 9Mobile in Nigeria.

In a press release signed on Sunday, 25tyh October, 2020 by NCC Director, Public Affairs, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, he said that with this approval EMTS and MTN are expected to configure their networks to begin test and simulation for customer experience. The trial approval covers a few local governments, designated as the National Roaming geographic area, in Ondo State.

Roaming Service enables a mobile subscriber to automatically make and receive voice calls, send and receive data, or access other services when travelling outside a particular network geographical area by utilising the network coverage of other networks with roaming arrangements to access service.

According to the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, the primary objective of the National Roaming Service trial is to encourage network resource sharing among operators.

He said this will lead to operational expenditure (OPEX) optimisation and capital expenditure (CAPEX) efficiencies leading to freeing up of resources to expand mobile network coverage to unserved and underserved communities across the country, which will lead to improved Quality of Service (QoS) delivery to subscribers.

“The successful implementation of the trial will enable EMTS subscribers to access MTN network service within the National Roaming trial geographical area without the need for an MTN Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card,” Danbatta said.

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TECH DIGEST – The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) has constituted a committee to review the framework for the licensing of Infrastructure Companies (InfraCo) and recommend sustainable funding options for effective implementation of the proposed national fibre project.

TECH DIGEST gathered that the constitution of the committee was sequel to the requirements of the new Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP 2020-2025) and reports of relevant committees set up by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), which include the Inter-Ministerial Review Committee on Multiple Taxation on Telecommunications Operators over Right-of-Way (RoW) and the Technical Sub-Committee on Right-of-Way for Deepening Broadband Penetration in Nigeria.

In a statement signed by Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, NCC’s Director, Public Affairs and made available to DigitalTimesNG, the Commission said that these requirements and reports relate to the imperative of reviewing the InfraCo framework to cater for the delays in take-off, change in the exchange rate, supply chain and other challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Committee set up by the Commission has met with all the six licensed InfraCos as well as the preferred bidder for the North Central zone.

The statement further showed that the Committee is also looking at the challenges facing the InfraCo project, the need for accelerated deployment of fibre infrastructure, means of mitigating the exorbitant RoW charges, among others.

The Commission is also working actively with the Broadband Implementation Steering Committee (BISC), as constituted by the Hon. Minister of Communications and Digital Economy based on the recommendations and requirements of the NNBP 2020-2025.

Providing updates on the status of the InfraCo project in his office in Abuja at the weekend, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, said: “The InfraCo project is dear to the government because of its ability to enhance robust and pervasive broadband infrastructure to drive service availability, accessibility and affordability.”

According to him, “We are keen on ensuring the project delivers maximum benefits for the economy at large and that is why the ongoing review is very critical to the overall success of the project in line with the new realities of the time.”

The EVC clarified that the current status of the InfraCo project, as provided above, is contrary to reports suggesting that the Commission is inching towards executing the counterpart funding in respect of the project.

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