Multiple Taxation, inadequacy in the deployment of infrastructure and right of way bottleneck, are major issues hindering the deployment of broadband by the Mobile Network Operators, MNO, in Nigeria. All these, are surmountable with the effective collaboration of the Nigerian Communications Commission and other stakeholders. This was disclosed by the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, at a Stakeholders engagement forum, with relevant State Agencies in charge of telecommunications matters in Abuja, on Tuesday, July 17, 2018. He explained that collaboration with all the relevant stakeholders is required, in order to ensure that the relevant infrastructure is deployed, especially, to the current under-served segments of the society.
The EVC/CEO, NCC, explained that efforts made by the NCC, in collaboration with some States, such as Ogun, Kano and Kaduna to bridge the gap between the served and the under-served of over 40 million Nigerians, in some States of the Federation, have resulted in the unsealing of various Base Station Transceiver sites for more reach.
The forum was attended by various industry Stakeholders, as well as from all 36 States of the Federation and the FCT. The theme of the forum was ‘Optimizing The Benefits Of Telecom Infrastructure In Nigeria’, with various resource person’s and panelists, discussing the issues.
Earlier, during the forum, the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholders Management, ECSM, NCC, Sunday Dare, stated that this kind of meeting was the first of its kind in the history of Telecommunications in Nigeria. “It is a long overdue engagement and I have no doubt that our discussion today, will facilitate better, mutual understanding and agreement on key issues, so that, we can work together to develop win-win strategies and deliver long-term benefits to our respective States”, he observed.
He further stated that, the Commission had met with the State Governors through the National Executive Council, NEC, where basic principles to create enabling environment for speedy deployment of new Telecom infrastructure and seamless operation of existing ones, were agreed on.
He assured the stakeholders that, the Commission is looking towards harmonizing the various multiple taxation and multiple regulation, as well as also develop a typology of taxes being charged, which will be agreeable to all the States.
