Oru Leonard

the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has developed and unveiled a new Strategic Vision Plan (SVP), for 2021- 2025.

The new SVP (2021–2025) which follows the SVP (2015-2020), was unveiled on Tuesday, September 7, 2021 at an event in Abuja, in a bid  to re-invigorate and take the Commission to greater heights.

Speaking at the event which saw the launch of the SVP, NCC Podcast and the book- ‘Compendium of EVC’s Speeches’, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive of the NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, disclosed that the new SVP embodies several innovative elements deliberately designed to re-invent and transform the telecom ecosystem within the context of regulation.

“We have taken cognizance of the several notable advancements in the Nigerian telecommunications industry within the last five (5) years, as well as the current global realities such as International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Strategic Plan (2020 – 2023), the Commission’s Strategic Management Plan (SMP) 2020-2024, the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) 2020-2030 for a digital Nigeria, the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025 and the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) of the Federal Government.

“Thus, the new plan has been guided by and aligned to the NNBP (2020-2025), the NDEPS (2020-2030), the SMP (2020-2024), the ITU Strategic Plan and the ERGP of the Federal Government”, he said.

Prof. Danbatta also explained that the new SVP 2021-2025 has five items namely: Organizational Renewal for Operational Efficiency and Regulatory Excellence; Facilitating the Provision of Infrastructure for a Digital Economy which fosters National Development; Promoting Fair Competition, Inclusive Growth, Increased investment and Innovative Services; Improve Quality of Service (QoS) for Enhanced Consumer Quality of Experience (QoE); and Facilitating Strategic Collaboration and Partnership.

He noted out that to ensure strong commitment to its implementation, the new SVP also has inbuilt initiatives, key performance indicators developed from inception and activities tied to an implementation responsibility matrix.

“It also incorporates timelines and a robust monitoring and evaluation mechanism. It is equally outcome-based and recommendation-driven with follow-up actions to guide the Commission in operationalising the plan and assessing its performance over time”, he remarked.

While speaking on the Compendium of EVC’s Speeches and Presentations, he stated, “As the chief regulator of this very dynamic telecom sector, I have had the opportunity to deliver several speeches and make presentations both locally and internationally. In order to preserve these speeches for historical reference, we have carefully selected some of the speeches which capture the successes and challenges of the Nigerian communications sector from my perspective”.

Danbatta said the book titled: “Catalysing Nigeria’s Socio-Economic Transformation through Broadband Infrastructure” is sure to give readers the historical background and authoritative context to the growth that is now being enjoyed by the industty, adding that the book is unique, the first of its kind, and a bold statement in accountability,

“In it, I seized the opportunity to present to the public a documentation of my discharge of the public trust emplaced on me”.

“Through this Compendium, it is hoped that the reader would easily see how the NCC’s Strategic Vision (SVP) for 2016-2020 has been formed and how it has been implemented over five years. It will also enable the reader to appreciate the industry’s position, impacts and challenges over the five years covered by the Compendium.

“We will continue to do our best in the discharge of the Commission’s mandate, especially in facilitating broadband deployment which is central to diversifying the Nigerian economy and for national development in line with the National Digital Economy agenda.

“Certainly, broadband infrastructure has become the most critical development infrastructure in a modern economy. It is our belief that the communications industry, under the leadership of our current Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, will experience more quantum leap and retain its current leadership role in delivering the much needed development for the people of Nigeria.

“In all, the Commission has positioned itself to participate fully and actively in the digital transformation of Nigeria consistent with the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025, the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) 2020-2030 for a digital Nigeria and the Strategic Management Plan (SMP) 2020-2024 of the Commission as well as other Government and ITU extant policy and regulatory documents respectively”, he said.

The EVC also launched the Commission’s podcast channel “NCC Global Connect” in line with its strategic initiatives to boost the corporate image and visibility of the Commission via the adoption of innovative channels of communication by developing audio and video contents to reach stakeholders within and outside the country as well as using it to attract the attention of prospective investors into the Nigerian telecommunications market.