Number portability begins by March ending – Juwah

BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

ABUJA — The Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Engr. Eugene Juwah, has said the commission was ready to roll out the much awaited Number Portability by the end of this month.

He also announced that the SIM Card registration project would be completed soon.

Juwah disclosed this, weekend, at a sent-forth dinner organised in honour of the old board of the commission in Abuja.

He noted that total investments in Nigerian telecommunications sector had risen to $25 billion, with an expectant increase in the number of subscriber base in the network also rising to an all time 113 million active lines.

The NCC boss, who  attributed the growth to democratic rule and the legacy projects of his predecessors, used the occasion to announce plans by the commission to begin fourth generation regulation before the end of the year.

According to him, the new regulation will place emphasis on quality before growth and stimulate  growth through the release of new licences.

Those honoured at the occasion include former Minister of Communications, Engr. Olawale Ige; Engr. Muktai Ibrahim Zani; Engr. Emmanuel Atoyebi and Engr. Stephen Bello.

“Although, the commercialisation of the sector commenced in 1992,  Nigeria  still  could not boast of 450,000 active lines in year 2000, which was powered by a paltry $500 million investment portfolio until the coming of democracy in 1999, but  the then President had to pick men and women of sterner character to turn the fortunes around,” Juwah said.