NCC says Nigeria among best phone, internet users

Nigeria’s telecommunication regulator, Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), has described Nigeria as one of the highest users of telephone and Internet connectivity around the globe with the population of phone subscribers standing at 140 million as at September last year.

The NCC has also pledged to apply stringent penalty against any of the communication service providers in Nigeria who deviate from the standard set by the commission.

Speaking at the NCC Day at the 39th Kaduna International Trade Fair, Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, said that the country’s communication indices had shown positive signs of steady growth and development.

“Phone subscribers stand at about 140 million subscribers while Internet penetration stands at about 92 million subscribers.”

Dambatta, who was represented by a Deputy Director, Corporate and Strategic Planning, Hajiya Amina Shehu, said with broadband penetration of 21 per cent the Nigeria social media space has continued to thrive, our citizens are enjoying access to modern ways of interactions in the cyberspace.

NCC pleaded with customers to be patient with the issue of quality service, like poor reception, wrong billing and deductions, as well as well as data roll over.

The NCC boss also disclosed that the telecommunication masts and towers erected within communities do not cause any health hazards as people think, pointing out that there are some individuals who still believe that telecom masts constitute health hazards.