As part of the effort to foster the growth of a Digital Economy in Nigeria in line with the re-energized Mandate of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, the Honourable Minister, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami FNCS, FBCS, FIIM today officially inaugurated the Nigerian National Broadband Plan Committee for the Development of the 2020-2025 National Broadband Plan for Nigeria.

I have presented some of the challenges facing the telecommunications sector before the Federal Executive Council (FEC), actions are being taken to address them, the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami FNCS, FBCS, FIIM has said.

The NEXT LEVEL Minister made this disclosure today while making his remarks during a special reception organized by the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) in honour of the Minister to formally welcome him as the supervisory Minister of the telecom industry.

The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), FNCS, FBCS, FIIM has reinstated the autonomy of the National Frequency Management Council (NFMC), in accordance with the provisions of the Act establishing it. At his inaugural meeting as Chairman of Council, Dr Pantami faulted the domiciling of the Council as a department under the Ministry, citing Section 30(2) of the Act which expressly states that officials of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, shall serve as Secretariat to the Council. This he emphasised, does not translate to the Council being reduced to the status of a department within the Ministry, as the independent status of the Council, is clearly maintained in the Act establishing it.

The NFMC was established by the Communications Act of 2003, which empowers the body, to coordinate and regulate spectrum license allocations, across regional and international borders. In his maiden address to council members, the Chairman disclosed that under his leadership, national interest must supersede sectoral or personal interests, emphasizing that the protection of the consumer is paramount, while providing an enabling environment for industry players to thrive, within the dictates of the law.

The highlight of his inaugural meeting as Council Chairman, was the inauguration of the National Frequency Management Council / Nigeria Police Force (NFMC/NPF), Joint Committee on evaluation of 450MHz Police equipment, in line with the provisions of the law empowering the Council to extend membership to competent and qualified persons or organisations that may assist it in the discharge of its duties.  At the end of the meeting, the following resolutions were reached;

1. The Council should be positioned properly as an autonomous body with the secretariat serviced by officials of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, as against its current status as a department under the Ministry;
2. That a Frequency Audit be carried out on all the Spectrum Licenses issued from inception till date, to determine the amount paid and to determine if Spectrum licenses issued, were been used for the purposes they have been assigned accordingly; and

• The Management of regulatory bodies represented on the Council, particularly, the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC), should immediately propose subsidiary legislation to support the existing Act, for enhanced efficiency and fairness to the consumers, with regards to payment of Satellite Television stations and exploitation, by some of them.

The meeting which was Dr Pantami’s first as NFMC Chairman, was the 48^th of the council, and the fourth to be held this year.

Signed

Uwa Suleiman (Mrs)

Spokesperson to the Honourable Minister of Communications & Digital Economy

12^th December, 2019

Long before he was called to public service, Dr Isa  Ali Ibrahim  (Pantami)  had  prepared for the task ahead. His life- long foray into the highly complex, intellectual world of digital scholarship, long before we even embraced technology in these climes, is testimony that nature had behooved on him the role he is so excellently playing today. It is neither accidental nor a mistake or even some inexplicable phenomena that at this very auspicious time in our nation’s history, a man of Pantami’s standing  and repute is exactly where he is today. No great leader happens by accident and nature makes no mistakes. In fact, it is God’s grand design that a leader is born, shaped, prepared , tested, purified and molded for the task ahead. Like the true worth and weight of gold is tested by fire, so is the life of a great leader tested and strengthened by trials and the stormy weathers of life.  

However one looks at it, whether from a microscopic or a telescopic perspective, Pantami is one of the greatest , most influential leaders of this generation, a living attestation that the wisdom of Solomon has nothing to do with Methuselah’s age. Pantami was born ready, armed with uncanny wisdom, knowledge, focus, determination, resilience, an awe inspiring fearlessness in the pursuit of justice and truth, a doggedness that defies distraction and the ability to set the pace in the most unpaved paths.

The renaming of the Ministry which he oversees to the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, which has become a thorn in the flesh of some myopic, misguided or out rightly unpatriotic elements, gives an insight into the depth of Pantami’s understanding of where we should be and how to get there. A man who is thoroughly meticulous in his actions and responsibilities, he initiated and pursued the name change to properly position the Ministry, expand its scope to include the requisite functions and give legal backing to it, in line with global best practice. He took his team back to the drawing board and laid a formidable foundation for the process of digitalising the economy. This is the same strategy deployed by technologically advanced societies globally, the same strategy that has put them ahead of us, the same strategy we have always yearned for but lacked the leadership to implement. Pantami has risen to the occasion and filled the vacuum, by demonstrating the will and courage to execute his mandate, as tasked by President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, and the very people who should lend their support are indeed the crusaders of stagnation and retrogression. 

Judging from the numerous feeble and cowardly recent attempts, at distracting or even stopping the laudable strides of Dr Pantami in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Sector, through cheap blackmail, it is only logical to conclude that quite a number of hitherto, “lords of lawlessness” have become quite uncomfortable with his mass oriented, people friendly policies which uphold the rule of law. 

It is both ironic and shameful, that while fifth columnists are working against the very principles and ideas we should all project, our neighbours on the continent both near and far flung, are inspired by Dr Pantami’s strategies and have refocused their countries’ digitalisation agenda drawing from his policies back home. At the Cyber security Conference for ECOWAS ICT Ministers, held in Ghana in October, his Ghanaian counterpart, Honourable Ursula Owusu-Ekufu after Nigeria’s presentation, stated that they were inspired by Dr Pantami’s policy of deactivating all improperly registered SIM Cards and right there and then, she followed in his footsteps and issued the same directive to the sector in her country. And that is not enough for an African female leader who has publicly declared Dr Pantami as a source of inspiration, she has also demonstrated her government’s willingness to collaborate with Nigeria for knowledge transfer as she has requested that a team from Ghana, visits Nigeria for the sole purpose of understudying NITDA, so they can benefit from Dr Pantami’s legacies and implement them in their country. There is no history of such a feat based purely on exemplary leadership and merit in the sector. 

On the 2nd of December 2019, South Africa’s Communications Commission ordered its Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to reduce the cost of data, a clear twenty six days behind the same directive by our own proactive, forward thinking Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy. If indeed there is any justification in the attack and totally baseless criticism of the policy, I expect that the same venom should have been directed at the South African Authority, for after all, the pursuit of what is right and just, should not be selective or discriminatory. Commissioner for communications Tembinkosi Bonakele, went even further to threaten legal action against MTN and Vodacom if they fail to comply within two months.

The Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI), in its latest report released on the 22nd October 2019, declared that Africans face the most expensive internet charges in the world! The A4AI’s report is based on its definition of affordability as, 1GB of mobile broadband data, costing no more than 2% of average monthly income. Studies conducted across the continent reveal an appalling 7.12% averaging almost a sixth of monthly income in some cases. The cost of data is a major determinant of access.

In Nigeria, a reported forty million citizens have no access to the internet and Dr Pantami finds this situation totally unacceptable. He has the mandate to change the narrative and has proceeded to act accordingly. I personally, and millions of other Nigerians find it totally incomprehensible as to why anybody would stand against it. This ilk of illegality, who feed fat on the deprivation and dry milking of the ordinary consumers, and have no sense of loyalty or duty to country, should know that Dr Pantami’s ultimate objective transcends local recognition not for himself, but for Nigeria. The A4AI, for the purposes of clarity, is a globally credible initiative of the Web Foundation founded by Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the Web, in partnership with Google and Facebook. This organisation has put in place a Good Practices Database which monitors improved access and affordability. Namibia and Kenya have already been cited on the platform for improved access and tax eliminations. Dr Pantami aims to effect such a phenomenal change in the sector as to put Nigeria on that pedestal. So unless the naysayers have more credibility than the A4AI, or nobler patriotic intentions than the Honourable Minister, I humbly advice they desist from their ignoble acts as no cabal will survive under the leadership of Dr Pantami in the ICT Sector.

The precedence he has set in NITDA, has become the solid bedrock on which sanity, the rule of law and professionalism now thrive. That same inherent leadership quality is what is manifesting in his capacity as Minister today. You cannot change or stop a man like Pantami from following his convictions, the law and his heart, when it comes to the discharge of his duties especially in upholding justice for the benefit of majority.

Here is a man who has staked everything to give his very best to the service of country, here is a man who is inspiring governments of other nations and galvanizing them into action, here is a man who has proven his mettle through his antecedents, one of our own, willing ready and committed and all some nitwits can do is attempt to discredit his efforts by ascribing petty politics to his office for their own selfish gains.

Dr Pantami is not a man to make loose or unguarded statements, so when he speaks, his words resonate substance. At a meeting with stakeholders in his office recently, he declared his stand. In his words, “They say, it is unwise to put all your eggs in one basket, I have deliberately put all my eggs in one basket, so my attention remains undivided. I have no choice but to commit all I have to ensure my eggs are protected and productive”. There is no Agency or Parastatal under his purview, that is left out of his transformation drive. He attends to issues with equal zeal as they exist and arise in every facet.  

In the event of doubt or ignorance, let me make it categorically clear that if I have not learnt anything in the three years and three months I have been privileged to serve, under the impeccable leadership of this great Nigerian and extraordinary human being, it certainly is not his strength of character. This is a man whose determination and focus is further fuelled by criticism. The failure to support worthy leadership, and the oppression of it has been the bane of development in these climes. Both challenges however, do not apply to the intellectual par excellence, as he has the full backing of President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, to deliver his mandate, legal might, a formidable and competent team loyal to his cause and the support of millions of Nigerians. Every strategy, policy, reform, directive and action, is inextricably linked to the President’s three (3) point Agenda of National Security, Anti Corruption and A Digital Economy. He is effectively blocking the leakages deployed as conduit pipes to siphon national resources and shortchange the people, he is deploying technology to enhance security and address distress situations across the country, and of course doggedly pursuing the Digital Economy Agenda, with the strategy document in green mode already. 

We are at a point in our nation’s history where business as usual cannot hold. The world is developing at the speed of light aided by technology and Dr Pantami is too busy, trying to make sure we are on board that train as a nation to reckon with, in the areas of innovation, capacity and infrastructure. He is too busy delivering his mandate to the millions of Nigerians who benefit daily from his mass-oriented leadership style. Those who cannot add value to the system should not sabotage the laudable efforts and achievements of those who are.

Pantami will not be oppressed or suppressed, he will not be intimidated and he will not abandon his mandate. 

Uwa Suleiman is Spokesperson to the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy.

The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami FNCS, FBCS, FIIM made this assertion as the Guest Lecturer at the 3rd, 4th and 5th Pre-Convocation Lecture of Federal University Kashere, Gombe State, on the topic “The Role of Digital Economy for National Economic Development“.

The Energetic and charismatic Next Level Minister on arrival at the Federal University Kashere, Gombe State, commissioned the new Library of the university. He was accompanied by Gombe State Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, Emir of Gombe, HRH Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Abubakar III among other dignitaries.

The 7th Regular Meeting of National Council On Communications and Digital Economy closing ceremony was chaired by the Chairman of the Council, the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami FNCS, FBCS, FIIM held at the Banquet Hall of Gombe Government House.

The Minister made it clear that Digital literacy is paramount to the development of any nation in the 21st Century, He said: “It is the goal of the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy to see that 95% of Nigerian Children become Digital Literates at least in the next two to three years”.

Dinner was organized by the Gombe State Government to honour the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami FNCS, FBCS, FIIM in furtherance to the ongoing 7th Regular Meeting of the National Council On Communications and Digital Economy, taking place at the Banquet Hall of Gombe State Government House.

The Conference has been a week-long event that converges representatives from different parts of the country to partake in the council, where deliberations are made on way forward in enhancing a digital economic nation.

Dr Pantami said, “Communications is the channel, Digital is the Content that goes through the channel and Economy is the main focus”, while making his remarks during the Dinner organized in his honour as a commemoration of the National Council On Communications and Digital Economy, a regular meeting taking place in the State.

The Minister thanked the government of Gombe State for providing an enabling environment for the successful hosting of the event, despite the short notice. And he praises the people of Gombe for the love and gestures his being shown whenever he visits the state.

The Secretary to the Government of Gombe State, Prof Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi who represented the Governor, Mr Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, on the other hand thanked the Ministry for finding the state worthy to host the annual event and declare that the government of Gombe state will see to the later the implementation of the outcome of the event.

Source: Mr Yusuf Abubakar, Personal Assistant (New Media) to The Minister

 Director (Radio Monitoring & Survey), Engr. K. Binga with the Syndicate Group on Capacity Building during the 2nd Day of the 7th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Communications and Digital Economy in Gombe State

Director (Telecoms & Postal Services), Engr. Ngozi O. Oguejiofor with the Syndicate Group on Capacity Building during the 2nd Day of the 7th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Communications and Digital Economy in Gombe State

Representative of (NCC), Mr. Banji Ojo and (NITDA) Dr. Taofeek Yekini leading the Syndicate Group on Capacity Building during the 2nd Day of the 7th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Communications and Digital Economy in Gombe State

Director (Planning, Research & Statistics), Dr. Nonye Nwachukwu with the Syndicate Group on Capacity Building during the 2nd Day of the 7th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Communications and Digital Economy in Gombe State

Permanent Secretary (FMoCDE), Mr. Musa Istifanus with the Syndicate Group on Capacity Building during the 2nd Day of the 7th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Communications and Digital Economy in Gombe State

Permanent Secretary (FMoCDE), Mr. Musa Istifanus with the Syndicate Group on Infrastructure during the 2nd Day of the 7th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Communications and Digital Economy in Gombe State

Source: Press Unit, Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy

Building on the fact that in the field of Information and Communication Technology, innovation has been a critical factor in the success of the industry as disruptive technologies have rendered so many others obsolete, the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami FNCS, FBCS, FIIM has emphasized on the need to embrace innovation.

The Honourable Minister said, “emerging technologies are coming up with new solutions, most probably in the next 5 years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) will dominate the world”.

The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) FNCS, FBCS, FIIM has mandated the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), to adhere strictly to the provisions of the Executive Orders 003 and 005 as contained in the Presidential directives of 1^st May 2017 and 12^th February 2018 respectively, in awarding contracts in the sector .

Stakeholders have drawn the attention of the Honourable Minister to the non-compliance of the sector regulator with the policy, as a result of which indigenous companies in the sector have continued to be sidelined.

The Executive Orders 003 of 2017 and 005 of 2018, were specifically enacted to give impetus to the Local Content Development and Promotion drive of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration as the Telecommunications sub-sector is one of the most important.

Executive Order 003, which is aimed at support for Local Content in public procurement by the Federal Government of Nigeria, expressly states that, all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) shall grant preference to local manufacturers of goods and service providers, in their procurement of goods and services. Executive Order 005 which was signed by President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, on 12^th February 2018, however, is even more specifically directed at the sector. The document titled Planning and Execution of Projects and Promotion of Nigerian Content in Contracts of Science, Engineering and Technology, directs all MDAs to engage indigenous professionals in the planning , design and execution of national security projects and maximize in-country capacity in all contracts and transactions with Science, Technology and Engineering components.

In light of this, it is our obligation to entrench the rule of law and ensure as much as possible, National Security Infrastructure and information, is domiciled locally with local companies as a first choice, and indigenous innovation is developed by adhering to the tenets of the Executive Orders outlined above.

The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, in line with the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) Policy of President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), and the Ministry’s mandate, has directed the sector regulator NCC, to immediately:

1. Review the Telecommunications sub-sector activities and give top priority and preference to Nigerian companies, with the requisite skills and qualifications;
2. Provide an enabling environment for local capacity to develop through collaborations with foreign companies, in the event that the contract is awarded to a foreign company, where indigenous capacity is lacking; and
3. Ensure that patronage of Indigenous Content, as outlined in the Executive Orders are complied with, in the sub-sector.

The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, is confident that the leadership of NCC will rise to the occasion and expedite action on this matter a month from the date of issue of this directive. Dr Pantami assures all Nigerians of his commitment to the protection of the rights of all citizens and the delivery of our mandate.

Signed

Uwa Suleiman (Mrs)

Spokesperson to the Honourable Minister of Communications & Digital Economy

2^nd December 2019