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| Director,Public Affairs,NCC Mr Tony Ojobo reading the EVC Keynote address |
Keynote
Address by Prof. Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian
Communications Commission at the First Annual Lecture of CKN News in Lagos on
June 13, 2017
COURTESIES!
It
is my privilege and honour to give the keynote speech at
the maiden edition of CKN News Annual Lecture which thematic focus requires us
to reflect on THE ROLE OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA IN THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL
DEVELOPMENT OF NIGERIA.
As
a global phenomenon and platform for knowledge, information and person to group
communications, the social media has come to shape our lives in very few
exciting in remarkable ways.
Scholars
(Lasswell 1927; Field 1991; Klapper 1960; Cantril 2005) have demonstrated in
varying degrees the power the media could exercise on the individual and
society. More recently, Castells (2010; 2012), Mutsvairo (2016), and Jenkins et
al (2016) have also shown both the utilitarian purposes as well as changing nature
of social media power, particularly when they are deployed in certain contexts
in combination with other media.
The
social media in particular have become the perfect example of the democratisation
of information
and technology with demonstrable capacity to migrate communication to
interactive dialogue, and social activation. This is greatly evident all around
the world with regards to its use for campaigns and enlightenment by political
parties.
Socially,
we are all witnesses to the volume of information shared on platforms such as Facebook,
Twitter, WhatsApp, Blackberry Messenger and Instagram, to mention
just a few among several social media apps and platforms through which
Nigerians interact , obtain information to meet their social needs to shape
their behaviours and enrich the quality of lives. Over 16million Nigerians are
on the Facebook, the highest in Africa, making Nigerians the most active users
in the Continent.
On
the economic front, the Social Media have become a market place of ideas and
creativity. Products and services are sold online, thus providing opportunity
for start-ups to commence businesses on a small scale. Many Nigerians, like
citizens of other nations, have honed amazing entrepreneurial skills to make a
living through opportunities provided by social media platforms, and have
equally become employers of labour.
Huge
financial transactions have been conducted by individuals and organizations online. Banking transactions such as online
deposits and transfers, have made financial transactions easier. In the past it
was difficult to travel without physically going to transporting and tourism
organizations to make booking and other logistics.
The
Country's E-Commerce space is growing tremendously,companies such as Yudala, Jumia,
Konga and Jiji to mention just a few, are online Malls recording
huge patronage by online customers. Also, the trove of information exchanged
through social media by individuals, groups and institutions has impacted on
all spheres notably; e-education, e-health,
e-agriculture,crime prevention, and
safety.
Politically,
people have latched on opportunities provided by the social media to exercise
their rights to free speech, to interact with their representatives, and make
constructive contributions to the political process in ways that were
unimaginable just a decade ago. As an Organization, NCC is elated at this
development. The protection of rights is a value that should be cherished by
all individuals and institutions.
In pursuance of citizens’ engagement, the Management of
NCC declared 2017 as the Year of the Nigerian Telecom Consumer. The central
purpose is to extend the frontiers of our engagement with stakeholders,
particularly the consumers that constitute the lifeblood of the telecom
industry.
In doing so, we are recreating platforms for
conversation that will offer more information and education to the consumer to
tackle challenges experienced by subscribers to telecom services, and through
that, underscoring our resolve to protect the consumer against infractions by
service providers. The consumers-NCC engagement also enables the Commission get
feedback and suggestions that enriches our regulatory role and interventions in
the industry.
Suffice
it to say that in driving this programme, we have also deployed the social
media to extend our reach and engagement. It stands to reason therefore, that
NCC as a public sector organization, recognizes the value of social media
networks in the society and its power to disseminate information on real time basis
globally.
We
appreciate the importance of data as a key resource in knowledge-management.
This explains our decision at the Nigerian Communications Commission to enhance
our strategic activities in the facilitation of broadband deployment consistent
with the National Broadband Plan.
Accordingly,
to make data available for all persons in Nigeria to access the internet and
participate in the emergent digital economy, the Commission has conducted the
auction of the 2.3GHz and the 2.1GHz spectrums. Some slots in the 2.6 GHz have
also been licensed and the 800MHz is being re-planned for LTE services. All
these are frequencies that will guarantee a robust access the internet thereby
empowering citizens to utilize the social media networks.
In
addition, in view of our technology neutrality stance, the Management of the
Commission is also re-farming older frequencies held by operators to be used
for data services. NCC has considered giving operators the liberty to deploy
spectrum resources allocated optimally by utilizing Next generation
technologies available in the global market.
Two licenses have been issued to Infrastructure
Companies (Infracos), to hasten deployment of fibre Optic infrastructure in
Lagos and the North Central Region of the country. The remains licenses for
other regions are being prepare for licensing before the end of the year. This
is one of our strategies for facilitating broadband deployment. The Infraco
licensing will attract necessary investments in infrastructure to ensure
support for the data segment and to ensure services are offered based on
objective prevailing prices.
The
Commission is also engaging our stakeholders such as the State Governors under
the auspices of Nigeria Governors Forum, and also individually as State Chief
Executives to ensure permits are granted to operators to deploy infrastructure.
Service providers have been discouraged by exorbitant levies, taxes and other
bottlenecks in the States. So, we are persuading State Governments to see the
long term benefits of data availability and its relation to economic growth
over and above immediate gratification of more revenue.
The
protection of infrastructure has also been a matter of concern to NCC. Hence,
we are consciously in the vanguard of advocacy for the declaration of Telecom infrastructure
as critical national assets. This is one reason we are pushing for a speedy
passage of the National Critical Infrastructure Protection Bill by the National
Assembly. The passage of the Bill is expected to reduce vandalism and theft of
equipment and facilities to enable us to address a critical challenge to data
availability and quality of consumer experience.
In
conclusion, although NCC adopts technology-neutrality regime in its role, and
will therefore not regulate social media use of apps also referred as OTT's, we
nevertheless use our moral authority to request that Nigerians take advantage
of the social media platforms to exchange information and participate in the
political, social and economic processes of our country in ways that promote
peace and enable us to build a more united and prosperous nation.
The
Cybercrimes Act 2015 already defines offences in this sphere and stipulates
punishments for breaches. As
responsible institution, we encourage a responsible and ethical
use of the Social Media for the good of all and the development of our Country.
On that note, Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. I wish you very fruitful
and rewarding deliberation.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
Tags
Business