Gambia’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Ousman Bah, stated that Nigeria’s massive regulatory advancements are the reason for the development of telecom in the country.
During a weekend courtesy visit to the management of the Nigerian Communications Commission in Abuja, Bah led a group that included industry regulators.
He claimed that the success that Nigeria has achieved in this area has served as inspiration for his nation to follow suit.
Bah stated that as a result, the West African country has finalized plans to create an independent regulatory commission similar to NCC.
According to Bah, “The current industry statistics are proof that Nigeria is achieving her goals of digitization.”
According to a statement released by the NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, yesterday, the Gambian minister requested the Commission’s strategic collaboration and advisory support in order to boost all sectors of the continent’s economies, accelerate economic growth, and improve efficiency in both countries.
The Nigerian Communications Act 2003 was highlighted by Josephine Amuwa, Director of Legal and Regulatory Services at NCC, who welcomed the team on behalf of Executive Vice Chairman Prof. Umar Danbatta.
The provision of high-quality and cost-effective telecommunications services across the nation, according to the official, is one of the regulatory mandates that the legislation gives the Commission the authority to carry out successfully. Another is to foster operator competition.
Amuwa discussed the Commission’s responsibility for ensuring that the USPF’s mission is carried out to the advantage of Nigerians.
She said, “The USPF was also established by the NCA 2003 to ensure that services are extended into the rural communities to ensure that telecoms services are available in unserved and underserved areas, even in the urban areas, to meet government objectives.
“The Commission adopts a participatory rule-making process where key players in the industry are invited to a public hearing for further deliberations to ensure that the stakeholders’ views are considered in establishing these regulatory guidelines.”