ICT Continues To Be Rallying Point For National Development -Danbatta

The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission ( NCC) Professor Umar Danbatta has said that with the shutdown of almost every sector of the economy since the outbreak, telecoms has continued to provide government and businesses the platform to operate and transact online to ensure that our developing economy is sustained.

According to him, the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry in Nigeria is indeed the most dynamic, as it continues to evolve by the day, as advancements in the sector have reshaped every facet of our human endeavour from how we learn, teach and communicate to advancements in medicine, transportation, space exploration and many more.

 Danbatta spoke at the capacity building programme for members of the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) Abuja branch yesterday.

He once again decried the falsehoods and misinformation that have been peddled both on online and traditional media outlets about the health and safety implications of deploying 5G technology, adding that, on the contrary, 5G which will affect the global economy and drive growth exponentially with its full economic effect will likely to be realized across the globe by 2035, supports  a wide range of industries and potentially enabling up to $13.2 trillion worth of goods and services.

He said, 5G when fully deployed will provide increased speed and bandwidth as well as deeper coverage to reach people in rural or challenging locations, and strong security for the various sectors of government and private organizations.

“Due to its sheer scale and scope, the ITU predicts 5G will accelerate the achievements of all the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) from affordable and clean energy to zero hunger”, he said.

According to Danbatta, the misinformation and misrepresentation of 5G technology has the potential of derailing the launch and implementation of this new technology in our clime, as many Nigerians including citizens in more civilized countries were hooked on the notion that the introduction of 5G technology was the reason behind the spread of the novel COVID-19 Pandemic.

This misconception, he noted, was even made worse because those saddled with the responsibility of informing, educating and enlightening the average Nigerian telecom consumers were also bereft of the knowledge of this new technology and hitched a ride on the band wagon of doubters.

“It is our tradition at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to ensure that our stakeholders and partners from the Media are well equipped with the knowledge and required skill-set to do their jobs effectively and efficiently.

“We should, indeed, all be thankful to be alive and living well in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The devastation and destruction caused by the novel corona virus cannot be quantified, but I am happy that the necessary policies and programmes put in place by the Commission have repositioned Nigeria’s Telecoms industry and also provided support for other vital sectors.

“I must applaud every member of NITRA for working assiduously to provide coverage for our activities, as well as provide a platform for our narratives in terms of the various policy initiatives and actions taken to support the national economy. Without your continuous cooperation, understanding and professionalism, the Nigerian audience would not have been properly informed about the activities of the NCC”.