By Kokumo Goodie

Lagos, Nigeria

Nigeria’s Telecoms sector regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), says the telecoms industry grew the nation’s GDP to 8.9% last year, adding that this was an improvement over the 8.6% growth recorded in 2015.

CEO of the Commission, Prof Garba Dambatta, who disclosed this, said the numbers of customers have also grown tremendously.

In terms of direct and indirect jobs, he said the sector has equally done well.

The NCC chief who was represented by the Deputy Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau (CAB), Ephraim Nwokenneya, said the Commission has declared 2017 as year for the telecoms consumers.

He promised that the Commission will firm up its regulatory function to ensure fair competition to assure sustainable growth of the industry, stressing that opportunities still exist for private sector investment and expansion.

“In 2015 alone, the telecom sector added 8.6% to national GDP compared to 8.9% in 2016. This is in spite of the current economic recession in the country. It goes without saying that the Commission supports the promotion of public private partnership as a strategy for accelerating growth and development hence our commitment and efforts in promoting active participation of all stakeholders in the industry.

“In NCC, we recognise the critical role of the consumer in what has become the success story of Nigeria’s telecoms sector. Hence, we regard the consumer as king in all our activities. We recognise that it is our responsibility as the regulator to see that the industry satisfies the needs of this class of stakeholders and that the consumer remains protected at all times. Consistent with our 8 point agenda and as a consumer centric organisation, the Commission has declared 2017 as a special year for the Nigerian telecoms consumer,” he said during NCC’s day at Kaduna International Trade Fair.

Shedding more light on the programme, he said it is designed to celebrate and empower the customers as a customer-centric model regulator in Africa.