NCC Remits N362.34 Billion to FG’s Consolidated Revenue Fund in Five Years

The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC has remitted N362.34 billion to the Federal Government Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).

This was disclosed by the Executive Vice Chairman, Prof Umar Danbatta during an interaction with media.

According to him, from 2015 to date, NCC has dutifully remitted the money to the Federal Government Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) through spectrum fees and operating surplus, which has helped to boost the revenue-generation drive of the current administration.

Speaking further, Danbatta said to optimize the usage and benefit of spectrum, a number of initiatives such as spectrum trading, infrastructure sharing, satellite infrastructure and wireless infrastructure have been put in place to drive socio-economic development.

In his words, “For instance, the transfer of the spectrum licence of 2X 10MHz in the 900MHz E-GSM Spectrum band from Intercellular Nigeria to Airtel networks Limited amounted to the sum of N8.9 billion. The amount generated through that singular initiative has brought significant revenue to Government.”

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In addition, he noted that pervasive broadband cannot be achieved with only 37,000 4G-enabled Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) of the total 50,000 BTS currently in the country.

“We need more next-generation technologies as we work through addressing infrastructure deficit occasioned by the spike in data usage in the country.”

Danbatta said that the diligent implementation of NCC’s Strategic Vision Plan (SVP), which focused on the 8-Point Agenda, has helped to lift broadband penetration from 6 per cent in 2015 to 42.02 per cent by July, 2020.

Similarly, Danbatta said on assumption of office, there were 47,000 kilometers of fibre optic cables laid across the country. However, five years after, as a result of regulatory focus, there are now 54,725 kilometers of fibre cables laid across the country through the efforts of some private companies in the sector.

“In line with the Federal Government’s target, additional 120,000 kilometer of fibre are being planned over the next four years. In this regard, the NCC is working on last-mile connectivity to different parts of the country through leveraging the 40 terabyte capacity of five submarine cables on the coastal shores of Nigeria,” he said.