Sierra Leonean telecoms regulator at NCC for benchmarking on policies, QoS, others

*The National Telecommunications Commission (NATCOM) of Sierra Leone has paid working visit to the Nigerian Communications Commission for benchmarking of NCC’s regulatory policies, programmes and activities

*The visit was very engaging and rewarding, says Amara Brewah, Deputy Director-General of NATCOM

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Nigeria’s global ranking as a model in telecoms regulation, and its status as a leading light of operational efficiency, solidarity, and collaborative partnering in sub-regional and continental telecommunication sphere has received a boost with the visit of a Sierra Leonean delegation to the Commission’s Headquarters, in Abuja, FCT.

ConsumerConnect reports a delegation from the National Telecommunications Commission (NATCOM) of Sierra Leone recently paid a visit to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), in Abuja, for benchmarking of NCC’s regulatory policies, programmes and activities.

The Commission noted Engr. Ubale Maska, Exectutive Commissioner, Technical Services (ECTS) at NCC, received the Sierra Leonean delegation, led by Amara Brewah, NATCOM’s Deputy Director-General, at the Commission’s Head Office, in Abuja, on behalf of Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of NCC.

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In his remarks during the visit, Brewah expressed gratitude to the Nigerian telecoms  sector regulator for the reception despite the short notice given.

The Deputy Director-General of NATCOM stated that NCC’s gesture resounded the value it accords the relationship that exists between the two regulatory organisations.

Brewah commended the Management of NCC for the opportunity offered his team, and  he described their interaction with many Departments of the Commission as very engaging, quite rewarding and very contextual, considering that the two countries operated under similar circumstances, and have had to contend with similar operational issues.

He, however, noted that the short notification was due to an equally engaging session he and his team had at a recent forum of the West African Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA) in the country.

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Commenting on the forum, Maska, who warmly received the visitors to the NCC, informed the delegation, the EVC/CEO was scheduled to carry out an important international assignment before the planned visit of the Sierra Leonean counterpart was received by the Commission.

He told the visitors that Prof. Danbatta would have loved to personally receive them because the NCC attaches great importance to visitations and exchanges by its counterparts, especially in the West African sub-region and on the African continent.

According to the Commission’s ECTS said that the value NCC bestows on sub-regional and continental collaboration and partnership explained EVC’s gracious approval of the request and directive to him to receive the Sierra Leonean delegation despite the short notice.

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The NCC Management team that received the visitors include Reuben Muoka, Head Special Duties, whose Department co-ordinated the reception for the NATCOM team; Hafiz Shehu, Chief of Staff to the EVC/CEO, and Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan, Head of Online Media, who represented Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Director of Public Affairs.

Maska said the NCC Management was pleased by the fact that the NATCOM delegation found the visit and the engagement with many Departments of NCC quite rewarding.

The Nigerian Communications Commission is quite appreciative of the trust and confidence reposed in it and in Nigeria by institutions like NATCOM, and the NCC looks forward unreservedly “to also learn how Sierra Leone handled some of its challenges in telecom regulation and other matters of similar interest, because we are also seek ways of improving our operations,” noted Maska.

Engr. Bako Wakil, Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity (DTSNI) at NCC, also expressed joy at seeing the Sierra Leonean delegation.

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Wakil commended them on the visit and expressed NCC’s willingness to share more information with the visitors, especially on Quality of Service (QoS) matters, one of the central issues on which NCC never rested its oars in ensuring continuous improvement.

The delegation had engaging interactions with many arms of NCC, including the Departments of Digital Economy, Licensing and Authorisation, Legal and Regulatory Services, TSNI, and Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis.

Other members of the delegation from Sierra Leone were Hon. Brima Mansaray, Member of the Information and Communications Committee of the Parliament of Sierra Leone; Paul Squire Esq., Member of NATCOM Board of Commissioners; Abdul Bah, Director Information Technology at NATCOM; Harding Tommy, Director Policy and Government Relations; and Shaka Sasha, Manager, Fraud Management Systems.

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