Nigeria Needs Enabling Policies, Institutions to Achieve Digital Transformation

Emma Okonji in Busan, South Korea

The Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umaru Danbatta has said that Nigeria must create enabling laws, and put the right institutions in place, for it to attain digital transformation.

Danbatta who made the remark at the ongoing ITU Telecom World, holding in Busan, South Korea, where over 500 exhibitors from 65 countries are showcasing new technologies that are currently shaping the world, said developed nations of the world are driving economic advancements, using modern technologies.

He said Nigeria could do same, if only there are enabling policies and institutions that will spur such development.
Aside right polices and institutions, Danbatta said the country also needs the right human capital to drive the digital transformation initiative.

Addressing the issue of enabling laws to drive digital transformation, the Chairman, House Committee on Federal Road Safety Commission, Hon. Abubakar Yunusa, said the National Assembly boldly supports technology development and would be glad to create and enforce laws that would promote technology development in Nigeria. “All old laws that seem to stifle the growth of technology advancement in the country will be amended to allow government create the enabling environment for technology business to thrive, Yunusa said.

According to Danbatta, the National Broadband Plan has placed on NCC, the responsibility to drive the broadband penetration initiative, designed to enhance technology development and digital transformation.

He commended Nigeria for the additional two per cent increase it recently attained in broadband penetration, from the initial 20 per cent penetration to 22 per cent penetration.

He insisted that Nigeria will attain the additional eight per cent penetration before the end of 2018, to meet up with the attainment of 30 per cent broadband penetration by 2018, as enshrined in the National Broadband Policy.

According to him, Nigeria, with a population of over 170 million, had already attained 92 per cent internet penetration, but still grappling with low broadband penetration.

Danbatta said the Nigerian delegation, led by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communications, Abdulkadir Mashi, attended the ITU Telecom World 2017 with important message from the Nigerian government to sell Nigeria’s potentials that will in turn attract more foreign investment into the country.

“We come to ITU Telecom World every year to tell our story, share our experiences and borrow a leaf from global best practices to address our concerns, engage and collaborate with the global community to strengthen the growth and impact of the Nigerian telecoms industry.

This year, we came to enlist the support of other players, governments, regulators and the global community from whom there is always a basket of ideas to take back home to Nigeria. The implementation of these ideas will ensure a better regulatory environment,” Danbatta said.

Our engagement with the global community during this event will include creating awareness of the investment opportunities in Africa’s biggest telecom market, as well as guarantee of adequate Returns on Investments (RoIs), Danbatta added.

Chairman, NCC Board of Commissioners, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, said Nigeria’s presence at this year’s ITU Telecom World, would impact businesses, especially the small and medium enterprise (SME) business, which he described as the engine for economic growth of every nation.