Telecom
ICT Stakeholders @ PIAFO Conference Harps on Benefits of ‘Dig Once Policy’
Stakeholders in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector on Tuesday highlighted the benefits of Dig Once Policy to the economy, saying that it would promote and ensure ubiquitous broadband penetration across the country.
L-R: Adewale Sulaiman, GM, Network Enterprise Services, MTN Nigeria; Chidi Ajuzie, Group Chief Operating Officer, WTES Projects Limited; Omobayo Azeez, Convener PIAFo and Publisher, Business Metrics Nigeria; Engr Usman Aliyu, Sec. BISC and Head, Wireless Network, NCC, (Rep. Minister of Communications and Digital Economy) and Ashwani Mishra, Director of ICT Strategy and Marketing, Huawei Technologies at the fourth edition of PIAFo held in Lagos.
Prof Isa Ali Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, speaking at the 4th edition of Policy Implementation Assisted Forum(PIAFO) on National Dig Once Policy, said the policy would promote and encourage collaboration between the private and public sectors.
Pantami who was represented by Engr Usman Ali, Deputy Director, Technical and Network Integrity, Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) stated this in his keynote address with the theme ‘Laying the Foundation for Ubiquitous Broadband for Nigeria’s Economic Breakthrough’.
He said that Dig Once Policy would promote synergy and collaboration among private partners participation.
The minister said that the synergy would encourage infrastructure sharing and joint installation of fibre duct to avoid future digging.
He said that the Dig Once Policy which is still in the draft form would promote installation of fibre duct for effective broadband, reduce the barriers for Internet Service Providers.
According to him, Dig Once Policy promotes safety of citizens reduces traffic congestion on line, promotes comprehensive planning and inclusion of all telecoms infrastructure.
Prof Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, also represented by Engr Usman Ali in his keynote address ‘Unlocking the Full Potential of the Telecoms Sector as an Economic Enabler with Dig Once Policy ‘.
The EVC said that NCC as a coordinating agency to will foresee the Dig Once Implementation Council (DOIC) and ensure that the policy is obeyed to the later.
Danbatta said that hopefully, by the end of the year, the Dig Once Policy which is in the draft form would be unveiled.
Mr Olabode Ojo, Director, Fiber Operations, IHS Nigeria said that the many benefits of Dig once cannot be overemphasized.
Ojo said that a Dig Once approach that encourages cooperation but does not prevent excavation when needed is most recommended for federal, state, and local agencies.
He said that Operators’ participation should also be non-exclusive thereby enabling the desired rapid broadband penetration for the country.
According to him, the benefits of Dig once policies include protecting newly and recently paved roads and sidewalks and enhancing the uniformity of construction.
He said that the benefit of Dig Once Policy also includes ensuring efficient, non-duplicative placement of infrastructure in the Public Right of Way (Row).
According to him, the benefits also includes environmentally friendly and enhances a greener planet, partnership in capacity building programmes such as training of contractors, skilled construction workers and site supervisor.
Also speaking at the occasion, Mr Chidi Ajuzie, Group Chief Operating Officer, WTES Project Limited in his paper presentation Public -Private Collaboration as a catalyst for Dig Once Policy Implementation emphasized on public private vector Collaboration.
Ajuzie said that the collaboration develops an ecosystem of trust with connectivity providers considering them as partners in improving the lives and livelihoods of citizens in line with commercial sensitivity.
He said that Dig Once Policy support digital inclusion initiative, internet speed increases, price per data unit decreases, increase data traffic competition.
Also, in his opening remarks, Mr Omobayo Azeez, Lead Executive, PIAFO said that the summit was considered a necessity to boosting Nigeria’s digital economy drive.
Azeez said which would ride on availability of high-speed internet to the nooks and crannies of the country.
He said this explains the choice of the Theme of this Summit which is: Laying the Foundation for Ubiquitous Broadband for Nigeria’s Economic Breakthrough.
It may interest you to know that the National Dig Once Policy that forms the central point of this summit is not yet operational in Nigeria.
‘’In fact we are setting the pace with this summit as the Pioneer stakeholder consultative forum dedicated to Dig Once in Nigeria.
‘’This speaks volume to the enormity of the task ahead of us today.’’
According to him, “we have positioned this forum to make invaluable contributions for proper formulation of the policy and its effective implementation after it is drafted.
He said in a simple term, Dig Once” policies include being alert to the potential to install or obtain fiber and conduit along rights-of-way on major infrastructure such as roads.
Azeez said that the Policy is imperative to deal with the bitter reality of telecoms sector anywhere in the world, the reality is that network expansion is often constrained by high cost of deploying infrastructure;
He said that fiber optic is the backbone infrastructure for network expansion and high Quality of Service (QoS).
He noted that achieving these and the ultimate 70 per cent broadband penetration targets by 2025 requires an ecosystem of willing and united stakeholders.
Azeez said that the stakeholders including various agencies of governments, operators, equipment manufacturers, and internet service providers.
He said that it is believed that all relevant stakeholders should be part of formulating this policy to ensure that the implementation is seamless.
According to him, it should be prevented from being revolted against in some quarters, just as the case with Right of Ways Charges in some states.
According to him, PIAFo is committed to building a strong midpoint platform for policy dialogue between the public and private divides of our ecosystem.
He said that this initiative is built on the three pillars of Policy Advocacy, Policy Implementation and Policy Assessment.
According to him, “we believe in more dialogue that leads to clear policy direction which is a prerequisite for seamless policy execution”.
Mr Ashwani Mishra, Director, ICT Strategy and Marketing, Huawei, enumerated important recommendations for Dig Once implementation in Nigeria.
According to him, “DOIC (Dig Once Implementation Council) as SPV should clarify the fiber strategy, boundary and scope of work of each stakeholder and publish quarterly progress reports. A mechanism description clarifying the cooperation between DOIC and NGF in adopting the policy in different states.
“Stimulate demand by making provision of ICT infrastructure a standard requirement for new building to drive extension of fiber everywhere in the country.
“Make Duct a standard specification for road reconstruction and new buildings.
” Uniform RoW charges and have SLA’s for each department / Ministry who are involved in the process of approval or else penalty.
“Protection of telecoms infrastructure by law enforcement agencies. Standard and specifications Redundancy and protection mechanisms should be unpacked, considered and included, especially with relation to national and regional routes.
“Imposition of penalties on construction companies for any arbitrary damage of fiber infrastructure. Establish a normative, technical and institutional framework for the pre-cabling of buildings in fiber optics for access to very high-speed broadband.
“Clearly define the property rights, and right of use of the new ducts/ conduits in the implementation of the policy, especially to those within the buildings and private sectors.
“Promote shared Fiber Infrastructure to avoid duplication of asset and CAPEX by each Player.
“Allow state utility like electrical poles to be used for the fiber rollout to expedite same.”
Nigeria may reinstate a previously suspended telecom tax and other fiscal measures as it seeks to secure a new $750 million loan from the World Bank, as per Nairametrics report.
This is according to the Stakeholder Engagement Plan for Nigeria – Accelerating Resource Mobilisation Reforms (ARMOR) P-For-R (P177308) program dated March 2024, between Nigeria and the World Bank.
A copy of the plan’s document was obtained and seen by Nairametrics suggest the government reintroduces the excises on telecom services, EMT levy on electronic money transfers through the Nigerian Banking System among other taxes.
President Bola Tinubu in July 2023 ordered the suspension of the 5% excise duty on telecommunications and the Import Tax Adjustment levy on certain vehicles.
However, it appears that this suspension may be lifted to meet the program targets for a new, yet-to-be-approved World Bank loan.
Nairametrics has confirmed that negotiations are ongoing between the Federal Government and the World Bank.
The program’s development objective is to strengthen the government’s financial position by enhancing its capacity to manage and mobilize domestic resources effectively, which includes improving tax and customs compliance and protecting oil revenues.
Affected stakeholders and sectors
The planned tax reforms under the ARMOR program are expected to have significant implications across various economic sectors.
According to the plan, affected stakeholders will include manufacturers of goods such as alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), telecom and banking service providers, as well as the general tax-paying public.
Importers and international traders will also feel the impact of these new fiscal policies.
Key industry groups such as the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) are engaged regarding the excise duties on telecom services.
The banking sector, represented by the Committee of Bankers, are engaged regarding the introduction of an Electronic Money Transfer (EMT) levy on transactions processed through Nigerian banks.
Additionally, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) will play a crucial role, particularly for those involved in producing targeted products such as tobacco and alcoholic beverages.
The plan document read:
“Domestic Revenue Mobilisation drive in the government ARMOR program seeks to increase revenue on some targeted industries and sectors of the economy. Specific groups and agencies within affected sectors include
“1. Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria: The introduction of excises on telecom services requires that all telcos are mobilised to fully participate in the collection of such revenue.
“2. Committee of Bankers: Introduction of EMT levy on electronic money transfers through the Nigerian Banking System would need the buy-in all banking institutions
“3. Manufacturer’s Association of Nigeria: Manufacturers of tobacco products, sugar sweetened beverages(SSBs) and alcoholic beverages who would be required to collect excises on their products are critical stakeholders for the introduction of the new excise regime. They are currently organised into various sectoral groups under the Manufacturer’s Association of Nigeria (MAN). Producers of alcoholic beverages organised under the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria also need to key into the reforms
“4. Importers: Strategic partners involved in importation of different items into the country will be mobilised to participate in the ARMOR program. A key stakeholder group is the Association of Nigeria Customs Agents (ANCLA).
“5. Vehicle Importers and Manufacturers: Stakeholders in the automobile trade industry must be engaged on reforms involving the introduction of green taxes on high GHG emission vehicles. Local manufacturing and assembly of vehicles is growing through a phase of growth in Nigeria. The demand for vehicles is mostly met through importation by vehicle importers under the aegis of Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria (AMDON).”
The document also emphasized the importance of engaging vulnerable groups to ensure they are not disproportionately affected by these changes.
It also said:
“Services that will be subjected to the newly introduced excises are regulated by key public sector agencies. The introduction of the new revenue measures will require the application of existing regulatory mechanisms available within these institutions. The concerned institutions include
“1. Nigerian Communication Commission
“2. Central Bank of Nigeria.
“There are also agencies with the mandate for making policies on some of the issues covered in the ARMOR program with respect to policy framework on matters of public interest in Health and Environmental Protection. The government institutions relevant to ARMOR in this regard are.
“1. Federal Ministry of Environment
“2. National Environmental Standards Regulatory and Enforcement Agency (NESREA)
“3. Federal Ministry of Health”
The Office of the African Union Chairperson’s Youth Envoy and Google today announced the launch of the #DiscoverMyAfrica Shorts Challenge, a month-long initiative to celebrate the rich diversity, heritage, and vibrant spirit of the African continent. Throughout May, YouTube creators across Africa are invited to share short videos capturing their unique perspectives, using the hashtag #DiscoverMyAfrica.
“#DiscoverMyAfrica empowers African youth to share their stories and rich cultural heritage globally,” said Chido Mpemba, African Union Chairperson’s Youth Envoy. “Partnering with Google fosters creative expression and dialogue on content responsibility, digital preservation, and AI’s impact on Africa’s creative industries. This aligns with our vision for a digitally-enabled Africa harnessing cultural wealth for economic growth and social progress.”
The YouTube Shorts Challenge encourages creators to showcase various facets of African life, from music and art to food, fashion, and local landmarks. To further celebrate Africa’s vibrant music scene, YouTube is turning up the energy with YouTube Music Nights in Nigeria and South Africa, showcasing the infectious rhythms of Afrobeats and Amapiano. Two dedicated playlists, “Africa’s Next Wave” and “Africa Superstars,” will highlight both emerging talent and iconic voices that have made the continent a global music powerhouse.
Nollywood superstar and style icon Osas Ighodaro will immerse viewers in the luxurious side of Lagos with her new show “Spa with Osas.” Enioluwa and The Geng will unravel the drama and secrets of high school elites in their highly anticipated series “All of Us.” And comedy superstar Broda Shaggi is guaranteed to bring the laughs with his hilarious new project, “Shaggi’s Palava.” These exciting new shows will premiere exclusively on YouTube.
Aspiring filmmakers and content creators can also take advantage of specialized workshops designed to hone their skills and expand their reach. A dedicated Nollywood workshop in Nigeria, and broader #DiscoverMyAfrica workshops for content creators will offer valuable insights and resources to creators at all levels.
“We are committed to supporting the diverse voices and talents that make up Africa’s creative landscape,” said Addy Awofisayo, Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa at YouTube.
“These initiatives provide valuable resources and platforms for African filmmakers, musicians, and content creators to share their stories and connect with global audiences.”
To learn more about #DiscoverMyAfrica and how to get involved, visit www.blog.google/africa or follow #DiscoverMyAfrica on social media.
In a remarkable acknowledgment of its excellence in public relations and communications, QNET, a leading lifestyle and wellness direct selling company, proudly announces its victory in three distinguished categories at the 11th annual PR Awards. Demonstrating its prowess in crisis management, corporate strategy, and technological innovation, QNET is setting new standards for excellence in Direct Selling.
This year, QNET was honoured with the following recognitions:
Silver Award for Best Corporate Strategy – An endorsement for QNET’s Fingreen financial literacy programme that has been rolled out in three countries over the last 18 months and has helped over 7000 people, including college students, home makers, street vendors, and female small traders, with the tools they need to take charge of their financial future.
Silver Award for Best Use of Technology – An important recognition for QNET’s QBuzz Blog, an innovative platform that leverages technology to foster community engagement and provide insightful company and industry content.
Bronze Award for Best Crisis Management Strategy – Celebrating the success of the “Truth About QNET” campaign, which effectively navigated the company through challenging times with transparency and integrity.
The PR Awards, renowned for highlighting the best in the PR and communications sector across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania, saw entries from the most prominent brands and organisations in the region. An independent panel of senior industry experts from leading brands selected this year’s winners, underscoring the credibility and prestige of the awards.
Trevor Kuna, Chief Transformation & Reputation Officer at QNET, expressed his enthusiasm: “We are profoundly honored by the recognition at the PR Awards 2024, which reflects our unwavering dedication to excellence, innovative strategies, and our commitment to providing outstanding value to our customers.
“These awards are a testament to the hard work and ingenuity of our team, and they motivate us to continue setting new benchmarks in the industry.”
QNET’s success at the PR Awards is not just a celebration of its achievements but also a promise to its stakeholders of its dedication to excellence and innovation. As the company looks forward to future challenges and opportunities, it remains committed to upholding the highest standards of quality and service in the industry.
For more information about QNET and its achievements, please visit QNET’s website.
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