By Emeka Aginam

Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Eugene Juwah, at the weekend lamented the dearth of software encoders in Nigerian and requested the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion, NOTAP, to step into this aspect for the benefit of the industry.

Dr. Juwah who spoke when the Director General of NOTAP, Dr. Umar B. Bindir, paid him a courtesy visit with his team in Abuja, regretted that there is growing number of experts in the data base development segment while the encoding area is being neglected to the detriment of the balanced growth of the industry.

The NCC boss also appraised the performance of NOTAP in the implementation of its mandate and how it has strived to expand it base for the benefit of the nation and raised its management for it patriotic efforts.

He noted that the NCC is not fully involved in the issue of research and analysis of softwares but is focused on the assessment of reasonableness of the pricing of the softwares used in the telecommunications industry but said the Commission will support awareness building efforts of the agency.

VISIT: From left, Mr. Tony Ojobo, Director, Human Caital and Infrastructure Group, Dr. Umar Bindir, CEO, NOTAP, Dr. Eugene Juwah, EVC of NCC, and Mr. Dave Imoko, Director, Public Affairs of NCC and anther staff of NOTAP during the visit.

He said this current responsibilities of the Commission in the area of reasonableness of pricing became necessary to ensure that softwares used in the telecom industry are not overpriced, and that this assessment affects intangible services like Internet access, and are usually compared with international benchmarks.

Dr. Juwah also informed the NOTAP team that in the dealings with the telecom companies, the Commission treats them with respect as credible companies with internationally corporate governance principles and do not expect them to cheat in their submission.

“Since their accounts are audited by reputable international firms, we have no doubts that they do not cheat”, he said.

In the area of technology acquisition development efforts, Dr. Juwah noted that most of the equipments used in the telecom industry like switches and transmission equipment are import-based but that the Commission is working to develop local content in some, including the current initiative that has led to the manufacturing of masts in Nigeria, while looking at how to develop the framework in some other areas.

Dr. Juwah also spoke about the efforts of the Commission that resulted in the establishment of the Internet Exchange Point that has led to keeping the internet content local.

He said that the exchange point has already been linked to the Lagos State University while efforts are being made to connect other universities. He said an effort like this is designed to encourage Nigerian students to be able to develop some software and improve their access for such resources.

Dr. Bindir, while providing insight into the activities of the agency, said that it has three criteria for approval. The first is acceptability of the software whereby all approvals are done on the basis of how favorubale it is to the nation.

Secondly, it looks at the technical component and how it will benefit Nigeria in the area of research by way of provisioning the training component, and lastly, how its financial content is cost effective to the nation.