High cost of data, Pantami calls for tariff reduction

Worried by high cost of data in the country, Minister of Communications, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami has called for immediate reduction of data tariff by telecom companies.

According to him a report from UK-based price comparison website — Cable stated that Nigeria is not among the top 10 African countries with low average price of data; a position the minister finds “worrisome considering the fact that the country has over 174 million internet users according to the report made public by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Ina statement made available to Blueprint, he minister also finds it unacceptable that with the prevailing high cost of data in Nigeria, the citizens still do not enjoy value for money as subscribers’ battle daily with illegal deduction of data, poor Quality of Service (QoS) among others.

It is on this backdrop that the minister directed NCC, the telecom regulators as a matter of urgency to immediately work hand in hand with the telecom operators and ensure  downward review of the price of data in Nigeria, improved quality of service provided and also checkmate the illegal deduction of subscribers’ data.

The minister gave this marching orders shortly after being briefed by the commission on the progress made in the implementation of the Short-Term Performance targets set for it to achieve.

Last month, the minister directed the commission; to bring to an end the issue of sales of pre-registered, unregistered and partially-registered SIM cards; and to stem the tide of illegal deduction of the data of subscribers and work towards the downward review of the cost of data. Also, NCC was to ensure compliance with the maximum 2% Call Drop Rate directive to telecom operators.

“The move was in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to ensure that all agencies under the supervision of a ministry are effective, efficient and accountable in the discharge of their responsibilities.

The minister task NCC as a regulator that their priority should be protecting the interest of Nigerians and  uphold professionalism and diligence in the discharge of their official responsibilities.

The commission also tabled challenges of the operators which includes vandalism of telecom infrastructures, inadequate power supply, right of way, hooliganism, multiple taxations among others and used the opportunity to call for the swift intervention of the minister to address the issues.

In the same vein, the minister directed Galaxy Backbone Plc, a government-owned Information Technology service provider to think out of the box, leverage on the advantage it has as a government-funded entity to deliver effective and efficient services to Nigerians, and in turn attract more revenue for the government.

 He said the government invested in Galaxy and should reap the dividend of its investment.

He said Galaxy should collaborate with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to expand its reach and take advantage of NITDA’s regulatory authority.

Dr Pantami also notified the chief executives that their scorecard of  performance on Short-Term Targets and new targets will be sent to them for implementation.

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