The rapid growth of the Nigerian telecommunications sector, which has an investment value of over $70 billion and contributing 10.5 per cent to Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) is a clear reflection of its huge contribution to Nigeria’s economy, driven by standard regulation.
This was the view of the former Director of Public Affairs at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Tony Ojobo, who retired and was replaced this week by the former Director, Corporate Planning, Strategy and Risk Management Mr. Nnamdi Nwokike.
Ojobo, who spoke at the valedictory session held in his honour in Abuja to mark his retirement from service, described the growth in the telecommunications sector as enormous and a boost to the country’s economy. He said he was leaving the commission as a fulfilled person having witnessed the quantum development in the telecoms sector that was driven by standard regulation from the telecoms industry regulator.
“I feel gratified because there has been tremendous growth from 0.04 per cent teledensity when I joined the commission to about 162 per cent teledensity phenomenon growth.
“From 450 active lines as at 2001 to about 162 million active lines today, all happened while I was in the commission. So for me, l left fulfilled, having worked at NITEL at a time when people would have to wait for years to get a single telephone line, compared to now when people in 20 minutes can activate a line and is working. – Thisday.
