NCC Vows Support for Law-Abiding Investors in Nigeria’s Digital Economy
By Patience Ikpeme
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has promised to provide its full support to investors who comply with the country’s regulations and contribute to the development of a robust digital economy. NCC Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO), Dr. Aminu Maida, made this assurance during a visit from Meta, formerly known as Facebook.
The executive expressed the Commission’s commitment to offering regulatory support to investors involved in the Nigerian market, emphasizing the importance of adherence to industry laws and regulations. Maida stressed that compliance creates a level-playing field for all stakeholders, fosters healthy competition, and ensures sustainable growth in the Nigerian telecoms sector.
During the meeting, Meta’s Vice President for Africa, the Middle-East, and Turkey, Kojo Boakye, congratulated Dr. Maida on his appointment and revealed plans to bring the 2Africa Cable to Nigeria. Boakye explained that the 45,000-kilometer-long submarine cable project will interconnect Europe, Asia, and Africa, offering unprecedented internet capacity and reliability, with a design capacity of up to 180 terabytes per second (Tbps).
Highlighting the significance of the project for Nigeria’s connectivity, Boakye sought the NCC’s assistance in navigating the necessary legal and regulatory processes in order to complement the existing backbone infrastructure. He also disclosed Meta’s intention to simultaneously land the 2Africa cable in Lagos and Akwa-Ibom states, aiming to connect those without internet access and provide enhanced and affordable connectivity to those already connected.
The NCC’s commitment to supporting law-abiding investors and its collaboration with Meta in the development of Nigeria’s digital economy mark a significant step towards achieving the government’s goals. The introduction of the 2Africa Cable promises to revolutionize internet connectivity in the region, facilitating further growth in 4G, 5G, and fixed broadband access, particularly in Nigeria.
