How telecoms law will aid Nigeria’s digital economy — Danbatta

The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Umar Danbatta, has said knowing telecom laws and regulations by Nigerians will aid the attainment of digital economy.

Danbatta said this on Thursday at a virtual launch of a book, “Nigerian Telecommunications Law and Regulation”.

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Speaking at the virtual public presentation of the book the NCC boss who was the Chairman and Lead Presenter at the event, said that law and regulation are two critical pillars, which influence the speed and impact of innovation in the telecoms sector.

“As important as these two factors are, they typically lag behind technology – it, therefore, behooves on all legal and regulatory practitioners in the sector to keep abreast of developments so that knowledge gaps do not stifle innovation and/or deny consumers of the optimum value,” he said.

Represented by the Executive Commissioner Stakeholder Management at NCC, Adeleke Adewolu, the EVC acknowledged that there is a noticeable paucity of well-researched books and reference materials on the legal and regulatory regime governing the telecommunications and indeed the ICT sector in Nigeria.

“I am, therefore, delighted that the authors of “Nigerian Telecommunications Law and Regulation” have taken up the challenge and have produced a comprehensive reference material which touches on practically every aspect of the subject.”

The official public presentation of the book was done by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare, who, who incidentally was a former ECSM at NCC, and had worked closely with one of the authors.

Dare described the book as “a compendium that will greatly enrich the level knowledge needed to enhance telecoms growth.”

Reviewer of the book, Dr. Mohammed Suleh-Yusuf, after an insightful review of the book, said, “The book is highly useful to practitioners and lay readers alike. It serves as a window into what shapes the industry and ensures readers are familiar at surface, to the basic rules and norms that influence the industry.”

Stakeholders endorse book

Other telecoms stakeholders have overwhelmingly endorsed the book, describing it as a good reference material and comprehensive guide, reference material and source-book on the policy, legal and regulatory framework governing the Nigerian telecommunications sector, which, many stakeholders said, will fill a critical contemporary knowledge gap for legal practitioners, investors and the academia.

According to the Head of Sub-Saharan Africa Operations, Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), Akinwale Goodluck, “As an industry practitioner, I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and recommend it very strongly for everyone with an interest in the Industry. It also provides invaluable insight for other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to learn from the Nigeria experience.”

Immediate past President, Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Olusola Teniola, and incumbent ATCON President, Ike Nnamani, aligned in their views, saying the authors have challenged the industry by putting together an encyclopedia behind the growth of the Telecommunications industry from the perspective of legal, regulatory, economic, social and technological impacts.

In his comment, Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, said “the book carefully dissects the policies, rules, regulations and industry best practices which makes the Nigerian telecommunications industry the success story that it is today, despite numerous challenges.”