The Director of Public Affairs, NCC, Nnamdi Nwokike said "the chat with the press is an opportunity to discuss the activities of the NCC over the past one year as well as to thank the Media”.
The Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof UG Danbatta who delivered the welcome address during the morning session stated that "the Commission is working in line with the 8 Point Agenda which is a strategic plan and would remain valid until 2020".
As the year is coming to an end, the NCC is analysing how much it has achieved so far as regards its set objectives and, we have tremendously achieved most of our goals.
Professor Umar Garba said,"to Facilitate Broadband Penetration and in a quest to bridge digital divide, the NCC has put in place initiatives to fast track Internet access and has taken services to several unserved and underserved areas in Nigeria".
Furthermore, in its quest to promote ICT Innovation and Investment Opportunities, the NCC has approved grants to facilitate Research in areas of need within the industry.
The NCC has also encouraged Telecoms Operators to embark on corporate social responsibility initiatives to drive local content development in the country.
He also stressed that "To Protect and Empower Consumers, NCC has engaged Consumers through various Outreach Programmes such as- Consumer Parliament, Consumer Outreach Programme and Consumer Town Hall Meeting. NCC also flagged 2017 as Year of the Telecom Consumer to underscore the importance it attaches to telecoms consumers".
Sunday Dare, Executive Commissioner Stakeholders Management, NCC who represented Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman at the afternoon session noted that
"The Telecom industry has become like Oil in the 21st century. Nigeria hasn't been left behind and has done well in terms of Service Provision; and in terms of usage the number of subscribers has tremendously increased from 500,000 in the days of Nitel to well over 162.3 million mobile users".
He further acknowledged that the issue of Call Masking is one which the Commission is strongly tackling as the technology for fighting call masking has been deployed in Lagos and some perpetrators have already been netted.
He also stated that NCC has heightened ample awareness through its various campaigns sensitization channels and through its social media platforms and urged subscribers to utilize the 2442 Do-not-Stop to totally stop unsolicited SMS Or select their preferred SMS by sending Help to 2442. Dare, also advised consumers to make use of the 622 Toll Free Line to escalate complaints unresolved by service providers or grievances to NCC.