Business
NCC hails Edo gov’t for safeguarding telecom Infrastructure during Construction
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has commended the Edo government for its approach in safeguarding telecom infrastructure during road construction.
The NCC said that contractors notified the commission and Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) before commencing road construction works.
The Executive Vice-Chairman (EVC), NCC, Dr Amimu Maida, who gave the commendation during a media breakfast meeting on Friday in Abuja, also urged other states to emulate Edo in reducing fibre cuts during construction.
“I would commend a particular state, Edo, its approach the matter.
“I will like to appreciate the state’s authorities in the way they have handled that collaboration in a very simple but effective manner.
“Their contractors, prior to starting any work, send out letters to the commission to inform all the telco service providers who own infrastructure to basically give them notice of work.
“That simple action has resulted in a significant decrease in the number of incidences that occur due to construction activities. So it is a model now that we are encouraging other states to adopt.”
On the quality of service that Nigerians are getting from service providers, Maida said that the commission was beginning to see positive signals through independent crowd-sourced data.
He, h, said that more work needed to be done.
“We are still not where we want to be, but we are beginning to see the right signals.
“The quality of experience is improving rather than services degrading, but at the same time, we are seeing a rise in consumption.
“We are still not where we want to be, but are we satisfied as a regulator? I think the area of satisfaction is the fact that we are beginning to see the right signals.”
The EVC said that operators upgraded about 2,800 sites last year across the three major operators, MTN, Airtel and Globacom, covering new sites, technology upgrades from 2G and 3G to 4G and 5G, and fibre additions.
He said operators had now committed to about 12,000 additional site upgrades and deployments this year.
“These numbers in terms of the work done also support this. Last year we saw just under 3,000 sites being upgraded and introduced for coverage and capacity.
“But this year they have committed to upgrading and introducing sites, which in total are about 12,000.
“This is across the three major operators, Airtel, Globalcom, and MTM. And this is a combination of new sites which have been upgraded from slower technologies, 2G, 3G, to 4G and 5G.”
On consumer protection, Maida said the NCC recently introduced a compensation directive for subscribers affected by poor service delivery.
He said the move was aimed at ensuring that consumers directly benefited, rather than government alone collecting financial penalties from defaulting operators.
“This is something that is going to be ongoing for those operators that are not showing commitment towards improving and addressing these issues,” he said.
He said that tower companies were also included in the directive, and are required to make additional investments in power and security infrastructure to support better service delivery.
In her remarks, the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management (ECSM), Rimini Makama, said that the quarterly engagement was organised to enable the media to properly inform the public.
“This quarterly interaction is being held precisely because we believe that a well-informed press produces a well informed public.
“A well informed public is one of the strongest tools we have for driving real progress in the telecom sector,” she said.
Earlier, the Director Public Affairs, NCC, Nnena Ukoha, said that the commission looked forward to frank, constructive conversations on telecom trends.
“It is my expectation that we will constructively utilise this platform for open and frank conversations, sharing insights on the emerging trends in the telecommunications industry.”
NAN
The post NCC hails Edo gov’t for safeguarding telecom Infrastructure during Construction appeared first on Business Today NG.
Enugu State is counting on its new airline and the concession of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, enugu, to support its plan of growing the state’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion by 2031, the Secretary to the State Government, Chidiebere Onyia, said on Tuesday.
Mr Onyia spoke during the Renewed Hope Media Tour of the airport, where he outlined how the state government’s plans to use aviation, tourism, and agriculture to drive economic growth.
According to him, the airport concession is part of a broader strategy by Governor Peter Mbah’s administration to re-position Enugu as a major economic hub in the South-east.
“We looked at Enugu as an economic hub where tourism, hospitality, investment and aviation can work together to drive growth,” he said.
Mr Onyia said the state expects an increase in visitor traffic in the coming years and believes air transport will play an important role in supporting that growth.
He explained that the government’s projections are linked to plans to attract tourists, investors and businesses to the state.
According to him, depending entirely on commercial airlines could limit the state’s ability to move people into Enugu efficiently.
That, he said, informed the decision to establish Enugu Air.
“If we’re expecting people to come into Enugu, then we can’t depend solely on third-party airlines based on their schedules,” he said.
Mr Onyia disclosed that Enugu Air has six aircraft, describing it as the first phase of the project.
The state government also expects the aviation project to support tourism development.
Mr Onyia said efforts are ongoing to revitalise tourist sites across the state, including attractions expected to draw more visitors to Enugu.
He said that improved access to the state would complement investments in tourism and hospitality by making it easier for visitors to travel to various destinations.
“If people are going to come here for tourism, they need to be able to get into Enugu, and when they get into Enugu, we’ll need places for them to visit,” he said.
He also noted that the airport infrastructure will also support the state’s agricultural development plans through cargo operations.
According to him, the cargo terminal will make it easier to move goods and agricultural produce within and outside the state, creating more opportunities for businesses and investors.
“This is also going to help our agricultural investment outlook because this is where the cargo terminal will be, where we can move things in and out of the state,” he said.
He added that the government’s vision is to use aviation infrastructure to strengthen trade and economic activities across the region.
Private sector-led approach
Mr Onyia said the state adopted a private sector-driven model for the airline and airport projects to ensure efficiency and sustainability.
According to him, professionals with industry experience have been involved in developing the airline and setting up its governance structure.
He said the approach is intended to avoid challenges often associated with direct government management of commercial enterprises.
READ ALSO: ENSSAA to begin enforcement against unauthorised outdoor advertisements across Enugu State
Providing an update on the airport concession process, Mr Onyia said October has been set as the timeline for the next phase of activities.
He explained that the current stage marks an important milestone in the project and will allow concessionaires and contractors to begin work at the site.
Mr Onyia also acknowledged the support of President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Ministry of Aviation in advancing the project.
According to him, federal approvals helped move the initiative from the planning stage to implementation.
The concession of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport followed approval by the Federal Executive Council as part of efforts to attract private investment into airport infrastructure.
In January, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, signed a concession agreement with Aero Alliance for the operation of the airport.
Under the arrangement, ownership of the airport remains with the Federal Government, while the concessionaire will operate, maintain, and upgrade the facility.
The project has attracted public attention in recent months as the Federal Government and Enugu State continue efforts to re-position the airport as a major gateway for business, tourism and trade in the South-east.
-
News16 hours agoJUST IN: Gunmen Attack NIPSS in Plateau, Kill Three Security Operatives
-
Health2 days ago
Five dead, 11 cases confirmed in Plateau cholera outbreak
-
News2 days ago
Troops Arrest Notorious Gun-runner In Plateau (Photo)
-
News2 days ago
Insecurity: FG seeks stronger collaboration with traditional rulers
