NCC assures investors of quick returns on investment

The Nigerian Communications Commission has assured prospective investors of quick returns on their investments in the Information and Communication Technology sector.
The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, gave the assurance during the Nigeria Investment Session, held at the ITU Telecom World 2016, on Wednesday in Thailand.
Danbatta said that there were immense investment opportunities in the Nigeria’s ICT sector as well as protection on investment.
He also said that there would be quick returns on investment due to the huge population of the country.
Danbatta said: “Apart from the urgent need to invest in infrastructure development for which Foreign Direct Investment is most welcome, there are several opportunities for investors.
“These are in the areas of fixed telephony services, mobile telephony services, fixed satellite services (Very Small Aperture Terminal and Value Added Services).
“Others areas are the Payphone services, especially in tertiary institutions, highbrow communities, urban and semi-urban centres and internet services, particularly broadband.”
According to Danbatta, investment opportunities also beckon on investors for digital transmission system, including microwave, satellite and optic fibre.
He said these were in the areas of submarine cable communications, digital exchanges for both wired and wireless lines, billing systems, data communications networks, broadband and Integrated Service Digital Network.
He said: “We, at the Nigerian Communications Commission, have rolled out an 8-point agenda which focuses on the change mantra of the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The agenda is premised on facilitating broadband penetration, improving quality of service, optimising usage and benefits of spectrum and promoting ICT innovation and investment.
“It is also premised on facilitating strategic partnerships, protecting our consumers, promoting fair and inclusive growth and ensuring regulatory excellence and operational efficiency.
“We recognise the immense socio-economic importance of ICT to National development and will therefore seek to ensure that the necessary infrastructure to ensure ubiquitous broadband service is available and accessible to citizens of Nigeria.
“I invite you to engage with delegates from Nigeria at our National Pavilion to dialogue and hear first-hand from our pavilion partners, of the immense investment opportunities as well as the initiatives that we have put in place to ensure that investments are protected.”
Danbatta said Nigeria had had a long history of strong relationship with the ITU and had actively participated in the ITU Telecom events and 2016 was no different.
According to him, Nigeria sees the ITU Telecom World as an opportunity to lend its voice to the insightful discussions and exchange of experiences and ideas on ICT development.
He also said that the event was the most ideal platform for Nigeria to inform the global ICT community of the vast investment opportunities that abound in the nation’s ICT sector.
Danbatta said: “The decision to have a National Pavilion once again in 2016 is predicated on the spirit of cooperation and the unified goal of both the Government and the private sector of Nigeria’s ICT industry to ensure that every Nigerian has access to ubiquitous, resilient and affordable ICT services.
“This is why you have at our National Pavilion, the Federal Ministry of Communications and its agencies, Galaxy Backbone, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited, National Information Technology Development Agency and the Nigerian Communications Commission.
“We also have with us other drivers of ICT in Nigeria, our operators and service providers, represented by Etisalat, MTN Nigeria, Airtel, Broadbased Communications and Phase 3 Telecoms.
“I am also pleased to inform you that we place very high premium on the future of our ICT sector; to this end, the Nigeria Pavilion is hosting some brilliant minds and entrepreneurs who are here to showcase their innovations to the World.”
The theme of the four-day international conference and exhibition, which will run from November 14 to 17, is: “Collaborating in the Digital Economy.”