Nigeria achieves 50% of broadband target, 20% still to go by 2025
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Nigeria has now achieved 50 per cent of the 70 per cent broadband penetration target by 2025, confirmed by Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Executive Vice Chairman Umar Danbatta.
Danbatta disclosed this in Lagos while receiving the Platinum Award of the Nigeria Academy of Engineering (NAEng) for telecom regulatory process and promotion of engineering as a profession.
“We have a target of 70 percent broadband penetration by 2025, as contained in the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP). We are around 50 percent currently and I can assure you that we are hopeful that we will achieve and surpass that target,” he said.
“I want to assure the public that the NCC will do whatever it can, within its mandates, to bring out impactful initiatives that will drive the digital transformation process that will ultimately make telecom services pervasive and affordable to all parts of the country.”
He disclosed NCC initiatives that facilitate socio-economic development include one in which the Commission trains youth, provides them with laptops and other equipment that enable them access the internet and acquire skills to earn a living.
NAEng President Azikiwe Onwualu, a Professor, stressed the NCC deserves the award as it has done the profession proud in its telecom regulatory process and promotion of engineering as shown in its strong support for the NAEng.
The award was presented by former Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Director General, Vincent Maduka.
“Danbatta has contributed immensely to the sustainability of all initiatives of the professional body, just as his role to the development of engineering profession in general is being felt in Nigeria, through his effective regulation of the telecommunications sector,” Maduka said, via reporting by Vanguard.
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Electronic fraud is rising, NCC warns public
Electronic fraud is on the rise, the NCC warned in May, stressing scammers now target telecom networks to disrupt service delivery and infiltrate data banks, using SIM swaps and Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD).
Danbatta sounded the alert at the Telecom Consumers Sensitisation Programme in Keffi, where he said fraudsters execute SIM swaps and USSD transactions to steal from victims.
Danbatta, represented by NCC Head of Consumer Protection and Advocacy, Clement Omeife, disclosed such fraud costs the economy huge sums of money.
“The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) rates electronic fraud as biggest risk in the sector, which has widely incorporated electronic payment solutions such as Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBBS) Instant Payment and mobile banking,” he said.
“The telecommunications sector is not also spared in the raging storm, stoked by cyber fraudsters across the country.”
Impact of identity theft
“A lot of people are highly ignorant to how losing their phones to fraudsters can lead to a complete clean-up of their bank accounts. These fraudsters do this by stealing victims’ identities, names, addresses and bank information, which they use in gaining access to their bank accounts,” Danbatta added.
“They also use the stolen identity to defraud other people, and even apply for loans, leaving the victim with debts.
“It is in view of this and in line with the Commission’s consumer-centric posture that NCC, in collaboration with relevant groups, embarked on the sensitisation programme.”
The programme is a deliberate initiative to educate the public against falling prey to fraudsters, he added.
Danbatta explained that in the fight against ebanking fraudsters, the NCC is collaborating with stakeholders such as the CBN, the police, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC), and others.
He warned consumers not to open unfamiliar emails or respond to unfamiliar enquiries, and urged them to promptly report suspicious efraud to banks and telecom service providers.