By Dipo Olowookere
Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, has stated that his agency generated more than N47 billion in spectrum usage and licensing within one year.
According to Mr Danbatta, broadband penetration increased from 10 percent to 20.95 percent within the year.
He said with the pace of growth, the nation might meet or surpass the recommendations in the National Broadband Plan, which is 30 per cent, in 2018.
The NCC boss rolled out these figures at a media briefing recently to highlight his achievements in the last 12 months.
He also revealed that the Commission had deployed four Anmtsu spectrum analysers, which had led to more efficiency in radio spectrum monitoring.
According to him, the percentage on internet penetration in the country had reached a milestone of 47.44 percent, second only to South Africa in the continent.
Mr Danbatta attributed his feat to the eight-point agenda he outlined for the Commission on his assumption of office in August 2016.
He also noted that N80 billion was received from MTN from the N330 billion fine imposed on it by the NCC as for infraction against the provisions of the SIM card registration regulation.
Mr Danbatta explained that the Commission had written to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) for the transfer of the money so far paid to the account of NCC domiciliary in the Central Bank of Nigeria so that it would immediately reflect in the nation’s consolidated revenue account.
He said, “We have reached an agreement with MTN in which they are to pay N330bn for over a period of three years.
“MTN has paid N50 billion into an account of the federal government domicile in Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). We have written a letter to the attorney-general of the federation requesting for the money to be credited to the NCC account.”
Mr Danbatta promised that the NCC would continue to achieve more feats.
