ATCON to Host Stakeholders’ Meeting With States Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, Head of ICT Agencies

The National Executive Council of Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has concluded plans to host a one-day Strategic Stakeholders meeting with the 36 States Commissioners including FCT, Permanent Secretaries & Heads of ICT Agencies in Abuja with a theme “Harnessing States Potential through the Applications of Technical Efficiencies”.

In a statement signed by ATCON President, Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere said it is crystal clear that the role of connectivity in driving innovation and digital economy cannot be overemphasized.

Emoekpere stated that the states governments need to work with telecoms operators to ensure that all hindrances and bottlenecks to pervasive and ubiquitous broadband is completely eradicated through constructive dialogue.

According to the association, the strategic objectives of the Strategic Stakeholders’ Meeting are; to discuss the status of the Nigerian National Broadband of 2020 to 2025 and 2023 – 2027 Strategic Blue Print of Dr Bosun Tijani with respect to its objectives and targets; To influence our members to have presences in all states of the federation as well as encourage capital importation to states that are ready for development which is enabled by communications, innovation and digital economy; To get states’ buying in the actualization of programmes, initiatives and activities targeted at pushing the frontiers of Telecommunications infrastructure developments in all the states of the federation; To have an approved way of resolving issues that bother on right of way, multiple taxation and other related issues; to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) that going forward there would be no destruction and shutting down of base stations across Nigeria and collaborate with states governments to leapfrog anticipated development and progress in all the states of the federation in order to deepen the broadband penetrative potentials in all sectors of the states’ economy thereby addressing the issues of poverty and unemployment faced by the state government.

Mr AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum; Dr. Bosun Tijani Honourable Minister,Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy; Barr. Nyesom Wike, Honourable Minister,Federal Capital Territorty (FCT) and Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have been invited to play key role during the conversation. Some selected Telecom CEOs, Commissioners and Heads of Agencies would serve as panel discussants, the statement disclosed.