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The profile of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) as a foremost regulator in Africa has again attracted another disciple wanting to tap from its experience and expertise. The latest is the Telecommunication Regulatory Board (TRB) of Cameroun which at the weekend signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the NCC.
By this development, the West Africa neighbour has joined a growing list of nations from Africa and beyond which had at various times courted the Nigerian telecom regulator to draw from its repertoire of regulatory excellence, a trend well acknowledged by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU. Kenya and Botswana had different times in the past understudied the NCC regulatory formula which has placed Nigeria at the cutting edge of global telecom development.
The signing ceremony which took place at the Corporate Headquarters of NCC in Abuja, was described by the Director General of TRB, Monsieur Jean Louis Beh Mengue as “a defining moment for us as regulators.” A statement by Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo quoted Mengue as saying that “the signing of the MoU comes to formalize and concretise the ties that have characterized our relations.”
According to Mengue, this signing opens yet another avenue in the long and brotherly relations and “in a new area where we acknowledge the NCC has more experience where TRB can tap and benefit from its rich experience in areas such as the control of Quality of Service, Number Portability, Consumer Protection and passive infrastructure regulation just to name a few.” Mengue said he is sure NCC will also benefit “from our experience in different areas.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah represented by Executive Commissioner, Stakeholders Management, Dr. Okechukwu Itanyi, explained that “over the last two decades, the NCC has emerged as the most efficient government agency overseeing the Telecommunications industry, the fastest growing in Nigeria,” adding that “the NCC has achieved this through extensive and thoroughly laid out Regulations, Rules and Policy directions that have guided the market conducts while ensuring sustainable competition in the industry.”
According to the EVC, “NCC’s continuous, active participation and consistent involvements in the global and regional activities buttress our unrelenting commitment towards building a regulatory environment that is comparable to any regulatory institution anywhere in the world.” The NCC boss told the visitors that the astronomical growth in Nigeria teledensity and subscriber base contributing to increase in direct and indirect employment opportunities have been achieved through ensuring a level playing field, transparent and participatory regulations and extensive stakeholders consultative process.
Juwah said NCC is pleased to partner with TRB “in order to compare notes and share our wealth of experience in telecommunications regulation, “adding that “we assure TRB of our optimum cooperation as we pledge our continued support and open access to our enormous knowledge base resources in Licensing, Legal, Spectrum, and Numbering Administration, Competition and Economic Regulations.” With the execution of the MoU, “we believe that both parties will take advantage of the opportunities that shall continue to unfold now and in the future,”
The Camerounian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Salaheddine Abba, led the Cameroonian team and were received by Dr. Itanyi and some Directors of the NCC, including Director Finance Services, Mrs. Abigail Sholanke, Director, Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis, Ms. Josephine Amuwa, Director, Corporate Planning and Strategy, Mr. Nnamdi Nwokike, and Head, New Media and Information, Mr. David Jumbo.
