31m Nigerians yet to enjoy telecommunication services – NCC

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says about 31 million Nigerians living in rural areas across the country are yet to enjoy telecommunication services due to lack of access and infrastructure.

Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, however, said efforts are being made to bridge the gap in line with international standards set by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

He explained that prior to his appointment, the gap was about 38 million Nigerians covering designated clusters of 217 areas, but the clusters have been reduced to 114 and 92 per cent of affected communities are in the northern parts of the country.

Prof. Danbatta, who spoke in Abuja, while interacting with members of the Senate Committee on Communications led by Senator Oluremi Tinubu said the federal government, established the universal service provision fund to address the problems associated with such gaps in areas considered as underserved or not served.

He said the NCC needs funds on yearly basis or at every budget circle to take care of such areas and urged the Senate committee to fasttrack the process of the passage of the Critical National Infrastructure Bill to address challenges and gaps within the industry.

Prof. Danbatta said the commission commits between N60 to N70 million yearly to research in the universities as part of efforts to promote indigenous technology and innovations, while two professorial chairs have also been endorsed by the commission in two universities.

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He Danbatta stated that the challenges confronting the sector range from vandalization of equipment and facilities, cutting of cables, erratic power supply to base stations, multiple taxes and the contentious issue of right of way.

Responding, Senator Tinubu promised that the issues raised during the visit would be discussed by the committee for onward presentation to the appropriate authority.

She added that the visit is a familiarisation visit in line with the oversight functions of the National Assembly.