ATCON: Sub-national Governments, Telecom Operators to Sign MoU on Standard Rules of Engagement

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The first Strategic Stakeholders’ Meeting between the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) and officials in charge of ICT in the 36 States of the Federation held recently in Abuja, under the theme: ‘Harnessing States Potentials through the Applications of Technical Efficiencies’.

Mr. Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere, the president of ATCON, opened the meeting with a welcome address which set the context of the meeting and outlined its objectives.

The meeting featured a Keynote Address by Dr. Aminu Maida, the executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) delivered by Engr. Yahaya Hamisu Abubakar, Head of the Broadband Implementation and Monitoring Unit in NCC.

Short presentations on expectations of operators from State Governments were made by Channel Scott of Pan African Towers and Saidu Abdulahi of HIS.

On the Government side, Mrs Rose Ibrahim, the acting Perm Sec (Director of Adm) represented Dr. Helen Aderibigbe Adeniyi, the commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Kogi State, and the Mr. Suleiman Isah, Commissioner for Communications, Technology and Digital Economy, spoke on State Governments’ expectations from operators towards connectivity and digital economy development.

The meeting also featured two interactive panel discussions from both the perspectives of Government and those of operators.

Among the States represented at the meeting were the States of Enugu, Cross River, Taraba, Adamawa, Anambra, Nasarawa, Kogi, and Ogun.

Overall, the meeting was attended by about 85 persons from the industry, Government and the media.

Techeconomy presents the communique issued at the end of the Strategic stakeholders’ meeting:

Objectives of the Meeting

The objectives of the meeting were outlined to include, among others:

1. Comprehensive review of the National Broadband Plan.
2. Fostering collaboration between operators and States for the digital transformation of all States in the federation.
3. Exploring opportunities to leverage broadband and ICT technologies to drive economic growth in all sectors of the sub-national economies.
4. Addressing critical issues affecting the telecoms sector.

Observations at the Meeting

1. The telecoms operators at the meeting decried the:
   1. Activities of non-state actors engaging in criminal activities such as kidnapping, banditry, vandalism and terrorism, which posed significant risks to both local and expatriate personnel working on telecom infrastructure, especially in the northern and southeastern parts of the nation.
   2. Exorbitant fees, bureaucratic and regulatory hurdles associated with obtaining Right of Way permits from some State Governments which had continued to be major barriers to telecom infrastructure development in Nigeria.
2. The representatives of State Governments on their own part expressed a strong desire for Telecoms operators to:
   1. Engage and interact more with sub-national Governments for a better understanding of their investments and operations in their host communities.
   2. Obtain permits, in accordance with the Communications Act of 2003, before investing in or deploying telecoms infrastructure in the States to avoid conflicts with constituted authorities.
3. The meeting was however unanimous in noting:
   1. The importance of cooperation and collaboration in developing the digital economy through the triple helix of Federal Government, Sub-nationals and Industry.
   2. The progress so far made in connectivity and broadband penetration in the country and the bright prospects of even more progress in the future through technical efficiencies and collaboration of stakeholders.
   3. That for Nigeria to fully harness the benefits of connectivity such as bridging of the digital divide, inclusive society, better governance and equity, digitization, enhanced security and sustainable development, it must address existing gaps in telecommunications infrastructure, and create an investor-friendly environment.
   4. The overarching role of broadband in economic development.
   5. The sterling examples of telecom-driven eGovernment implementation in some States such as Adamawa, Anambra and Cross River.

Resolutions and Recommendations

Against the background of the foregoing observations, the meeting resolved that:

1. Such a consultative and interactive stakeholders meeting hosted by ATCON should be regular and at least annual.
2. A Memorandum of Understanding, specifying standards of engagement between operators and sub-national Governments, be drafted and executed as an outcome of the July 31, 2024, meeting to enable more investor friendly environment for the growth of the digital economy through a connected Nigeria.
3. Operators should adopt, as part of their standard operating procedure, regular engagements with appropriate authorities at the sub-national levels.
4. Government, especially at the sub-national levels, and telecom operators must continually collaborate to achieve a connected Nigeria and an enhanced economic growth for the nation.
5. State Governments would, therefore, need to prioritize telecoms infrastructure, work for harmonized Right of Way charges and adopt the Dig Once Policy initiative across the country.

The meeting also:

1. Commended ATCON for its proactive leadership in scheduling and hosting the very successful stakeholder meeting.
2. Expressed gratitude to the NCC, under the leadership of Dr. Aminu Maida as the EVC, for its support.
3. Thanked all the sponsors of the event, which included: NCC, Huawei Technologies, Africa Data Centers, NetAccess Systems Limited, IHS Nigeria Limited, Pan African Towers, MainOne, VDT Communications, Tec-Point Global Solution, FibreOne, Infratel Africa, One Date, Interra Network, Layer3 Limited, and Notion Technologies.
4. Thanked the media for their participation and coverage of the event.

Issued thus 31st Day of July 2024 at the Envoy Hotel, Diplomatic Drive, Abuja.

Signed:

Dr. Hammajam Ahmed Adamu, (Special Adviser ICTs, E-Governance and Policy, Adamawa State) – For: Government Officials.         

Mr. Tony I. Emoekpere, president, ATCON – For Operators.                                                    

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