By Angeline Mgbele, Bureau Chief, Northern Nigeria
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), pursuant to its commitment to collaboration and regional integration, has reaffirmed its dedication to strengthening partnerships among telecommunications regulators within the West African sub-region. This is contained in a press statement e-authored yesterday by the Head, Public Affairs at NCC, Mrs. Nnenna Ukoha.
As per the NCC statement, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer(EVC/CEO) of the Commission, Dr. Aminu Maida re-affirmed the commitment when the Commission hosted a high-level delegation from the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) at the NCC’s Head Office in Abuja, north central Nigeria, at the weekend.
Speaking during the LTA’s visit, Dr. Maida, who was represented by the Director of Corporate Planning, Strategy and Risk Management at NCC, Dr. Kelechi Nwankwo, emphasized the Commission’s mandate to continually collaborate with sister regulatory institutions within the sub-region and beyond to drive the expansion of digital economy and improve the living conditions of citizen.
Maida said, given the NCC’s long-standing commitment to regional cooperation through platforms such as the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA), the Commission believed the region became stronger and more prosperous when all countries were interconnected.
The NCC EVC/CEO further emphasized that collaboration remained a core driver of the NCC Board and that sustained engagement with regional partners was essential to advancing the interests of telecommunications consumers and various stakeholders.
Maida recalled the Commission’s advocacy for the recognition of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) as critical national infrastructure within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), noting that Nigeria had already designated ICT as part of its critical national information infrastructure to give it the prominence required for sustainable growth.
He assured the Liberian delegation of the NCC’s readiness to provide support in advancing regional shared initiatives and translating discussions into actionable outcomes within the sub-region.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the LTA, Hon. Clarence Massaquoi, commended the NCC for making itself available in the spirit of regional coordination and collaboration, describing the engagement as critical to strengthening regulatory responsibilities across the sub-region.
Hon. Massaquoi acknowledged that Nigeria remained the largest economy in the region and a central player in Africa’s communications, security, and economic structures, that progress made by Nigeria often had far-reaching impacts across other West African countries.
He explained that since his assumption of office as the Liberian chief telecom regulator, the LTA had prioritized strengthening relationships with regional institutions to support ECOWAS’ vision of integration as effective regional integration could not be achieved without affordable and reliable communications services, particularly in addressing cross-border roaming challenges.
The LTA Chairman disclosed that Liberia had signed bilateral agreements with The Gambia and Côte d’Ivoire and was at advanced stages of discussion with Ghana and Guinea-Conakry and that the Liberian regulator remained committed to active participation in WATRA.
Massaquoi further sought NCC’s support in regulatory capacity building and the sharing of best practices, particularly as Liberia reviewed its licensing regime to reflect emerging technologies and aligned with regional standards.
The two regulators also underscored the centrality of shared commitment to deepen collaboration, identify priority areas for engagement, and advance initiatives that will promote seamless connectivity, regional integration, and socio-economic development across West Africa.
