The executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida has emphasised that the commission’s stance on the quality of service in the telecommunications sector is non-negotiable.
Speaking at an interactive session with industry chief executive officers in Lagos, Maida called for collaborative efforts within the industry to ensure exceptional service delivery.
Assuming his role as the substantive CEO of the commission during a confirmation ceremony at the Senate Chambers, Maida stressed the paramount role of the telecom industry in enabling Nigeria’s digital economy. He urged industry leaders to recognise the significance of their roles in consolidating the achievements already made in the sector.
“People actually expect telecom services to work. I don’t think they really appreciate what it takes to deliver these services. So, it has come to a stage they just see telecom service as utility like water and electricity. Like a social service, it needs to work. We need to really come together in the industry and deliver value to the customer,” Maida asserted.
He acknowledged the high expectations of telecom consumers and emphasized the need for industry-wide collaboration to meet these expectations. Maida highlighted compliance with industry regulations and standards as a focal point, stressing the urgency in addressing compliance issues.
“When it comes to compliance, this is an area where we are going to be placing a lot more focus, and things are going to be a lot more urgent. I am not going to be asking for compliance after the fact. That is going to be a very key area of focus for me,” he emphasised.
Discussing the benchmark for the telecom industry, Maida stated, “So, we owe it to ourselves to benchmark ourselves against the best, not against other sectors. We have to just take ourselves as setting the benchmark for every person else. So, let people compare and say we have to be as good as telecom.”
Addressing broadband issues, Maida acknowledged the progress made with Infrastructure Company (InfraCo) licensing but stressed the need for a reevaluation of the approach. He expressed a sense of urgency in increasing investment in broadband and reassessed the strategy for infrastructural development.
The NCC boss regarded operating entities as a crucial segment of national telecom development and expressed his desire to directly hear from industry CEOs about the challenges, opportunities and issues they face. He emphasised that the conversation is not just about representing shareholders but about moving Nigeria forward, with the Nigerian people being the most critical stakeholders.
Industry CEOs present at the interactive session expressed their support for Maida’s mandate and commended his consultative approach. The president of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Tony Emoekpere and the chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo lauded the interactive session as a promising platform for industry discussions. They expressed confidence in Maida’s approach and commitment to advancing the telecom sector.
