Barrister Adeleke Adewolu
Executive Commissioner
Stakeholder Management
Nigerian Communications Commission

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has explained some of the key measures it is taking to ensure Broadband and Internet connectivity impact businesses and individual telecom users in Nigeria.
The Commission has also stated how instrumental the ongoing implementation of the new Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP), 2020-2025 and its Strategic Vision Plan (SVP), 2021-2025 can drive development of new technologies and local content in Nigeria.
According to the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management (ECSM) at NCC, Adeleke Adewolu, who spoke at a breakout session at the recent 2021 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, which took place in Port Harcourt, one of the key policy instruments that guide the development of the sector is the NNBP.
“The Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP), 2020-2025 has four critical pillars which are: Infrastructure, Policy, Demand Drivers and Funding/Incentives,” he said.
He asserted that the NNBP is unique in many respects. One is the fact that it clearly defines ‘broadband’ for Nigeria as “connectivity delivering a minimum of 10 Mbps in rural areas and a minimum of 25 Mbps in urban areas to every Nigerian at an affordable price and quality.”
On the other hand, he said the Strategic Vision Plan (SVP) 2021-2025 is a template developed by the NCC to streamline regulatory focus for better efficiency, in alignment with relevant policy instruments.
“For the next five years, the Commission is focusing its energies on five strategic pillars. These are: Organizational renewal for operational efficiency and Regulatory excellence; Provision of infrastructure for a digital economy which fosters national development; Improved Quality of Service (QoS) for enhanced Consumer Quality of Experience (QoE); Promotion of fair competition, inclusive growth, increased investment and innovative services; and Strategic Collaboration and Partnership,” he emphasised.
Adewolu declared that “the impact of connectivity on businesses and the economy, in terms of the impact of internet connectivity on businesses and the national economy is well documented.” He recalled that 10 per cent increase in mobile broadband penetration results in approximately 0.6 per cent to 2.8 per cent rise in Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Furthermore, he affirmed that everyone is a witness to the revolutionary impact of the internet connectivity for agriculture, health, education, information and communication, as well as entertainment. This is besides notable revolution in banking and financial services as we can see in the deployment of Automated Teller machines (ATMs) and banking software.
“All industries now rely on internet connectivity provided by our mobile networks to function, such that it is impossible to imagine life without connectivity. In concrete terms, the Nigerian telecommunications industry has continued to lead national economic growth,” he said.
According to him, in recent years, the telecoms sector has consistently driven the growth of the Nigerian economy and has provided critical infrastructure powering the digital transformation of practically all spheres of life.
Adewolu said that in the second quarter of 2021, the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector sustained its growth trajectory and contributed 17.9 per cent to national GDP. He attributed this to the growth in the telecoms sub-sector. “This trend demonstrates how much our industry is supporting the achievement of Government’s drive to diversify Nigeria’s economy and to ensure inclusive growth across all other sectors,” he said.
According to the ECSM, in practical terms, it is difficult to imagine how Nigeria and indeed the global economy could have fared without the internet during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. He insisted that the fact that the conference was holding in hybrid format was just an indication of the benefits that connectivity, which the Commission is driving, brings.
On local content, Adewolu stated that all the major policy instruments emphasised the need for Nigerians to take bigger roles in the ownership and management of major spheres in the sector. He also added that Mr. President recently launched the National Policy for the Promotion of Indigenous Content in the Nigerian Telecommunications Sector, which articulated very clear policy objectives and strategies for increasing local participation.
“It would interest you that the NCC has established a National Office for the Development of Indigenous Content in the Telecommunications Sector (NODITS) to drive the attainment of Policy objectives,” he said.
Adewolu contended that, taken together, the instruments enable NCC to aggressively drive infrastructure development, ensuring that available, accessible and affordable access to broadband infrastructure and services for all Nigerians are safeguarded.
He expressed hope that, by the end of the NNBP’s lifecycle, the country will achieve the target of reaching an effective coverage of, at least, 90 per cent of the population at a price not more than N390 per 1GB of data.

L-R: Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, Director, Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); Yetunde Akinloye, Director, Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis, NCC; Omulu’s daughter, Osmond Omulu, Senior Manager, Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis, NCC; Omulu’s wife, Usman Malah, Director, Human Capital and Administration, NCC; and Yakubu Gontor, Director, Financial Services, NCC.

Members of staff of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) converged in the Conference Room of the Commission’s Head Office recently, to honour Osmund Omulu, a staff of the Commission, who is retiring upon attaining the Nigerian public service mandatory retirement age of 60 years.
Omulu, who joined the Commission in 2002, has been described as an unusually focused, peaceful gentleman who is always willing to assist and educate people on how to make their work better. Even those who are his seniors, who met him at the Commission and others who worked with him as a colleague prior to his sojourn at NCC recalled how much Omulu guided them through basic processes.
At the valedictory where every speaker spoke like an author of a chapter in a book of memoirs, Omulu was described as a great historian, who put a historical context to every knowledge he had to share with his colleagues.
He was also described as a man, whose physical appearance is in synergy with his soul and spirit because of his predilection not to carry grudges nor hold on to any negative memory about anyone. “Even when he disagreed with people’s opinion and conduct, he ensured that things are settled and everyone moved on, as he never had the record of nursing grudges with anybody”, a testimonial stated.
Gentlemanly, focused and unassuming, Omulu was also described “a living repository of Commission’s cherished standard practice” by his colleagues, many of who participated virtually in the valedictory programme.
A man of a modest and humble beginning, Omolu started his career at the United Bank for Africa (UBA) as a stenographer and rose to become a confidential secretary but he was so methodical and had acquired so much knowledge that a staff who met him at UBA and now works at the Commission described as “his first teacher in banking” even though he latter had joined UBA as a senior to Omulu.
After Omulu joined NCC, he enrolled for and completed a degree in Accounting and proceeded to complete his professional examination with the Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIB), a programme he had enlisted for while he was a banker. Omulu is now a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria.
Hence, Omulu, who is married with children, is perceived as a study in focus and determination. The send-off programme was also attended by Omulu’s wife and children.
Directors, Deputy Directors, other senior management staff, as well as staff representing different categories of staff in the organisational hierarchy were present at the event. Attendees also include persons representing other communities of interests outside the Commission, particularly those with whom Omulu has had long relationship in Abuja, his community in Enugu and in Kano, where he had part of his education.
One after another, speakers attested to Omulu’s sterling character and fondness for building community through uniting people, enhancing peaceful co-existence, ensuring thoroughness in delivery of jobs at work place and his bubbling unusual energy despite his age.
Avuncular, respectful, stickler to rules, tenacious, determined and with an eye for details, Omulu was described as bringing all these attributes to bear on his work in ways that have enhanced the work at the Commission.
The foregoing explained the litany of praises, well-wishes and entreaties that were recurring feature of the tributes and goodwill messages delivered by no fewer than 15 people representing different communities of interest that collaborated to organise, attend and participate in the valedictory forum in his honour.
The presence of four Directors, some Heads of Departments and many Heads of Units at the event was an eloquent testimony to how much Mr Omulu is loved and appreciated by his colleagues in different cadres at the Commission.
His current supervisor, Yetunde Akinloye, who is Director, Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis; Yakubu Gontor, Director, Financial Services; Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Director Public Affairs; and Usman Malah, Director, Human Capital and Administration also spoke well of Omulu.
Other Management staff, including Reuben Mouka, Head, Special Duties; Ibrahim Aliyu, Head, Administration; and Usman Mamman, Head Pre-Licensing, who had worked with Omulu at UBA, all spoke so glowingly about Omulu and wished him a blissful life in retirement.

The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) has conveyed the approval of the Federal Government to extend of the deadline for the National Identity Number (NIN)-Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) data verification. Citizens and legal residents are urged to complete the process before the end of the year 2021.
The decision to extend the deadline was made further to appeals by the Mobile Network Operators and other industry stakeholders, soliciting for a further extension to ensure better compliance with government’s directive and to avoid widening the digital divide.
The extension would also provide the enabling environment for the registration of Nigerians in remote areas, diaspora, schools, hospitals, worship centres, as well as foreigners, diplomatic missions, those in other areas that were hitherto unreachable, and increase enrolments in countries with a significant number of Nigerians.
The review of the progress of the exercise indicated that over 66 million unique National Identity Numbers (NIN) have been issued- an indication of progress achieved in the ongoing NIN-SIM linkage. However, a significant part of the populace is yet to be registered into the National Identity Database (NIDB), which may be due to some challenges which the Federal Government has looked into and has made efforts to alleviate, hence the need to extend the deadline.
As of October 30, 2021, there were over 9,500 enrolment systems and over 8,000 NIN enrolment centres within and outside the country- this has significantly eased the NIN enrolment process and subsequent linkage of NIN to SIM. The NIN-SIM verification process is supporting the Government’s drive to develop Nigeria’s digital economy, strengthen our ability to protect our cyberspace and support the security agencies.
The administration of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has graciously approved the extension to accommodate the yearnings of the populace and make it easier for its citizens within and outside the country, and legal residents to obtain the NIN and link it with their SIM. The Federal Government will ensure that all innocent, law abiding citizens and residents will not lose access to their phone lines as long as they obtain and link their NIN.
Government will also continue to provide an enabling environment for investors in the telecommunications sector.
The unique 66 million NIN enrolments, with an average of 3 to 4 SIMs linked to the NIN, is a testament to the commitment and dedication of the Federal Government, through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), to ensure the success of the project.
With the creation of additional NIN enrolment centres within and outside the country, and many more coming up, the remaining citizens and legal residents living in the country and the diaspora should be able to obtain their NINs and link them with their SIMs before the end of the year.
Consequently, the Honourable Minister enjoins Nigerians and legal residents to make use of the opportunity of the extension to enrol for their NINs and link with their SIMs.
On behalf of the Honourable Minister, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, and the Director-General/CEO of NIMC, Engr. Aliyu Aziz, urge citizens and legal residents to take advantage of the window to complete the process of enrolment and verification before the end of the year 2021.

L-R: Quassim Odunmbaku, Special Assistant, ECSM’s office, NCC; Abulaziz Adamu, Assistant Director, Commission Secretariat, NCC; Helen Obi, Head, Telecoms Law and Regulations, NCC; Hafsat Lawal, Head, Consumer Policy Development and Monitoring, NCC: Barr. Adeleke Adewolu, Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management (ECSM), NCC; Yetunde Akinloye, Director, Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis, NCC; Afure Iloka, Special Assistant (Legal) to the Executive Vice Chairman, NCC; June Nwachukwu, Assistant Director, Legal Services, NCC; and Ibe Ngwoke, Principal Manager, Commission Secretariat, NCC.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said it is adjusting regulatory instruments and management tools to ensure regulations are fit for future imperatives of a robust telecoms sector.
The Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management (ECSM), NCC, Adeleke Adewolu, stated this when he spoke at a panel session at the 2021 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association held in Port Harcourt. The general theme of the Conference is, ‘Taking the Lead.’
Adewolu, who made the declaration in a panel discussion focused on Government Regulation of Innovation and Technology, said, “In specific terms, we are taking action in the following areas: We are adjusting regulatory instruments and management tools to ensure regulations are fit for the future. An example is our ongoing review of the Telephone Subscriber Registration Regulations to strengthen the framework for digital identity; and the review of the Spectrum Trading Guidelines to ensure more efficient use of spectrum.”
Also, the ECSM said NCC is laying institutional foundations to enable co-operation with other regulatory institutions and international organisations such as the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
The Commission, according to Adewolu, is also developing and adapting governance frameworks to enable the development of agile and future-proof regulation; and equally adapting regulatory enforcement activities to the “new normal.”
He said this is to ensure alignment with the rapid technological changes and innovations that are emerging at a high speed and with sophistication.
On censorship, particularly tackling illegal and harmful content on over-the-top (OTT) platforms, Adeleke said NCC had to opt for “a middle ground that promotes safe use of digital service platforms without necessarily stifling the exercise of the citizen’s right to free expression as guaranteed in the Nigerian Constitution.”
He explained that on technology platforms, censorship manifests in three scenarios, namely, restriction of person-to-person communications; restriction of Internet access generally; or restriction of access to specific content, which governments find objectionable.
This, he said, was pursuant to constitutional provisions such as those in Section 39(3) of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution, as amended, which approves “any law that is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society to prevent the disclosure of information received in confidence, maintaining the authority and independence of courts or regulating telephony, wireless broadcasting, television or the exhibition of cinematograph films.”
In particular, Adewolu declared that the third scenario is globally recognised as the ideal situation because one of the core responsibilities of government (as enshrined in Chapter 2 of the Nigerian Constitution) is to safeguard the lives and property of citizens.
Explicating further, Adewolu said that social media platforms allow instant communications without regard for impact or consequences. He insisted that self-regulation is possible, but “as we have experienced over and over again, an ill-considered post on social media can easily incite unrest and crises.”
He bemoaned the fact that leading social media platforms have demonstrated a rather unfortunate reluctance to moderate the use of their platforms for subversion and harm. “So, we cannot trust them to self-regulate,” he emphasised.
According to him, self-regulation has not been very effective, and interestingly, “the largest platforms are global platforms and many of them are protected by their home governments.”
For instance, “Sc.230 of US Communications Act provides immunity to firms like Facebook and Google from responsibility for content disseminated on their media, although they still apply fair usage and community rules which enables them to self-regulate.
However, as we saw with the case of the former US President Donald Trump – people are often able to disseminate negative content for a while before they are cut off. Mr Trump had over 87 million followers he engaged directly with,” the ECSM stated.
Another example he cited happened just few days ago when CNN reported that Facebook deliberately failed to curb posts inciting violence in Ethiopia despite the fact that its own staff flagged such posts, and that Ethiopia is listed as a high-priority zone, which has been fighting a civil war for the past one year. As Adewolu recalled, the UN Secretary General recently called for the regulation of social media platforms, and even the CEO of Facebook has made similar calls in the past.
“So, we cannot wholly depend on self-regulation. And whilst we cannot prevent citizens from freely expressing themselves on these platforms, it would be irresponsible for any government to allow unbridled use of these mediated communication to cause chaos and imperil lives and property. Government must act to protect social cohesion and national security,” he counselled.