The telecoms regulator in Nigeria has set up a department for the digital economy. Responsible for promoting the federal government’s vision for the sector, it will use the digital economy policy document to carry out its mission. 

The Communications Commission of Nigeria (NCC) has set up a department for the digital economy. NCC Director of Public Affairs Ikechukwu Adinde announced it on July 7, 2020. Placed directly under the office of Executive Vice President Umar Danbatta (photo), the new dismemberment will be responsible for implementation NCC programs and policies essential to the development of the digital economy in the country.

According to Umar Danbatta, the creation of the new department is in line with the Commission’s strategy of setting up a dedicated team with the sole responsibility of promoting the federal government’s vision for the digital economy, led by the Minister of Communications and ‘Digital economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami. 

The head of the NCC said that the placing of the department of digital economy under the direct supervision of the office of the executive vice-president “also underlines the importance which the Commission attaches to the need to carry out the overall national strategy of the government’s digital economy, ensuring its effective monitoring and supervision ”.

Umar Danbatta explained that the digital economy department will carry out its mission based on the eight pillars of the digital economy policy document: regulatory development, literacy and digital skills, solid infrastructure, infrastructure services, flexible infrastructures, development and promotion of digital services, emerging digital society and technologies, development and adoption of local content.

All the staff of the special projects department (specially responsible for all projects relating to the deployment of broadband at the NCC) will be assigned to the new department of digital economy entrusted to Babagana Digima.

Source: Agence Ecofin