The Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, has listed a number of steps to be taken, if Nigeria is to maximize the potentials of the fourth industrial revolution.
Professor Danbatta who spoke through the Commission’s Executive Commissioner in charge of Stakeholder Management Adeleke Adewolu, at the third in the virtual discourse series organized by the Advocaat Law Practice on Thursday stated that effective and forward looking policy instruments, cost-effective availability of communication infrastructure and deployment of regulatory instruments as key to making the most of the new industrial revolution.
“In essence, Nigeria can only maximize the potentials of the 4th Industrial Revolution if we articulate effective and forward-looking Policy Instruments to guide our emergence into the future digital landscape; ensure the ubiquitous presence, the seamless operation and the cost-effective availability of communications infrastructure which will power the digital aspirations of all sectors of the Nigerian economy and ensure that national competitiveness is guaranteed as well as deploy effective regulatory instruments and harness the efforts of all critical Stakeholders so that we can derive the utmost benefits from the 4th Industrial revolution and not be reduced to digital laggards, spectators, or, merely a consumptive class,” Danbatta said.
He also used the opportunity to emphasise the need for concerted efforts towards ensuring the success of the on-going NIN-SIM linkage.
“Permit me to also use this opportunity to highlight – and seek the support of all Stakeholders – on the issue of citizens’ identification and digital identity – something we all agree, I am sure, is critical to our country’s digital emergence and its future growth.
“As we all know, the Federal Government has articulated a Policy that all Nigerians must possess a unique National Identification Number (NIN) issued by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC); and that the NIN must be linked with all identity databases, particularly the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Registration database. To achieve this, we had to take the difficult decision of suspending the actuation of all new SIMs and to mandate all citizens to link their SIMs to their NINs,” he added.
“I am pleased to note that we have achieved very significant success in the articulation of a template for the activation of new SIMs linked with authenticated NINs, and that the activation of new SIMs will now be carried out across the country in earnest.
“This development further underscores government’s commitment to ensure that all the pre-requisites for our citizens full, effective and productive participation in the digital economy is guaranteed. I call on all Stakeholders to support these efforts in the overall national interest for a robust citizens’ database that supports socio-economic, health, education, national security and other public interest aspirations of the country.