Nigeria’s global ranking as a model in telecom regulation, and her status as a leading light of operational efficiency, solidarity and collaborative partnering in sub-regional and continental telecommunication sphere has been hailed by the National Telecommunications Commission (NATCOM) of Sierra Leone.
The NATCOM submitted when it paid a visit to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Thursday, for benchmarking of NCC’s regulatory policies, programmes and activities.
The Sierra Leonean delegation, led by NATCOM’s deputy director-general, Amara Brewah, was received at NCC’s head office by NCC’s executive commissioner, technical services (ECTS), Engr. Ubale Maska, on behalf of the executive vice chairman (EVC) of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta.
Brewah expressed gratitude to NCC for the reception despite the short notice and stated that NCC’s gesture was a testament to the value it accords to the relationship that exists between both organisations. He thanked the management of NCC for the opportunity offered his team and described their interaction with many departments of the NCC as “very engaging, quite rewarding and very contextual, considering that the two countries operate under similar circumstances and have had to contend with similar operational issues”.
Brewah said the short notice was borne of engaging sessions he and his team had with the Nigerian delegation at a recent forum of the West African Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA).
Maska, who warmly received the visitors, informed them that the EVC was scheduled to carry out an important international assignment before the planned visit of the Sierra Leonean delegation.
A statement from the director, public affairs, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, quoted the ECTS to have extolled the value the NCC bestows on sub-regional and continental collaboration and partnership. He further explained EVC’s gracious approval of the request and directive to receive the delegation despite the short notice.
Maska said the commission reflected the appreciation of the trust and confidence reposed in it and Nigeria by institutions like NATCOM and the NCC looked forward “to also learn how Sierra Leone handled some of its challenges in telecom regulation and other matters of similar interests because we are also seeking ways of improving our operations.”
The NCC director of technical standards and network integrity (DTSNI), Engr. Bako Wakil, expressed joy at seeing the Sierra Leonean delegation, thanked them for the visit and expressed NCC’s willingness to share more information, especially on issues relating to the quality of service (QoS), one of the central issues on which NCC never rested its oars in ensuring continuous improvement.
The NCC Management team that received the visitors include the head, special duties, Reuben Muoka, whose department co-ordinated the reception for the NATCOM team; chief of staff to the EVC Hafiz Shehu and head, online media, Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan, who represented the director, public affairs, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde.
Members of the delegation from Sierra Leone included a member of the information and communications committee of the Parliament of Sierra Leone, Hon. Brima Mansaray; Member of NATCOM Board of Commissioners Paul Squire Esq.; director, information technology at NATCOM, Abdul Bah; director, policy and government relations, Harding Tommy and manager, fraud management systems, Shaka Sasha.
