Nigerian Telecoms Consumers Spend $6.6 billion in 2016- NCC

NCC announced that Nigerian consumers spent $6.6 billion in 2016.
« Creatives invited to register for #CreativeHack2017
Don’t skimp on power distribution units, Netshield a Westcon-Comstor company warns »
Nigerian Telecoms Consumers Spend $6.6 billion in 2016- NCC
March 16, 2017 • Mobile and Telecoms, Top Stories,
West Africa
Prof. Umar Gaarba Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) disclosed, on Wednesday in Abuja during the launch of the NCC Year of Consumer initiative, that Nigerian telecoms consumers spent $6.6 billion in 2016.
He said that this is an increase on the $5.6 billion that consumers spent in 2015, adding that consumer contributions has made the success stories possible in the sector.
Danbatta highlighted the importance of this increase, saying “That’s why today’s event is remarkable. More remarkable is that the year 2017 is dedicated to the Nigerian Telecom Consumer,’’ he said.
He added that the NCC intends to inform and educate consumers with the goal of protecting and empowering them to make the right decisions this year.
He further noted that a robust media programme would accompany the initiatives in this campaign through the year providing unique and timely information to all. “That is why in 2017, and I dare say and even beyond, the consumer will be our focus.The NCC is mandated to monitor the quality of service and ensure it conforms to acceptable standard,” Danbatta concluded.
The Minister of Communication in Nigeria, Mr Adebayo Shittu, highlighted the governments commitments to formulate policies, frameworks and guidelines on protecting ICT consumers. Shittu added that government had actively engaged key stakeholders to ensure the quality of service and consumer rights.
Speaking at the NCC launch, Shittu said that “Our goal is to fully balance between consumer rights and rights to privacy. Also to facilitating inter-Governmental Consultations on ICT matter to avoid unnecessary disparities in developmental structures and standards in Nigeria.”
The role that the ICT sector plays in the process of governance, business, education and health is vital according to Shittu. This is why government is intensifying its adoption of ICT to provide better response to citizens’ demands and improve service delivery to make the administration more efficient, he concluded.
Staff Writer