Commendations have trailed the Federal Government’s announcement of Dr Eugene Juwah as executive vice chairman/ chief executive officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). A high ranking official of one of the prominent telecom operators said Juwah’s appointment portends a good omen for the telecoms industry.

“Eugene Juwah’s appointment by the President Goodluck Jonathan administration as the Head of the NCC is apt at this point. It is highly commendable given Dr. Juwah’s pedigree as a telecoms professional. I think the telecom industry would benefit from his immense wealth of experience”, the official stated.

“I personally applaud the decision to put square pegs in square holes. Having been an operator, he knows the challenges of operating in a country like Nigeria. Even though he would now function as the regulator of the telecom industry, I am confident that he would be an impartial arbiter in cases between operators and subscribers”, he added.

Another telecom professional ,who preferred anonymity because the appointment of Juwah, a PhD holder in systems engineering,  is yet to be ratified by the legislative arm of government, expressed confidence that the EVC-designate would ensure the success of the SIM card registration exercise. The House of Representatives had  recently rejected the NCC’s budget of N6.1 billion to register SIM card subscribers.

Speaking on telephone to Sunday Vanguard, he said, “I believe that one of his first assignments as the NCC EVC would be to bring the SIM card registration exercise to fruition. I believe his indepth knowledge of the industry would be brought to bear to ensure successful completion of the exercise”, he noted.

He further expects that  Juwah would have a hitch-free session when he is being screened on Monday by the Senate.