By Umar Suleiman
The Nigeria Communication Commission has said that the Federal Government will generate over N500 billion in 2023 fiscal year through the 5G spectrum.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof.Umar Danbatta, made this known on Monday at an interactive meeting on 2023-2025 MTEF-FSP, organised by the Senate Committee on Finance.
Danbatta said the projected revenue would be realised from the auctioning of two 5G spectrums and the bidding process for auctioning of the spectrums in 2023.
He also disclosed that NCC had generated N257 billion in the first quarter of 2022, while N195bn was remitted to government coffers.
The NCC boss added that from April to August, N318bn was generated while N214 was remitted.
According to him, the fund realised was occasioned by the auctioning of two 5G spectrums at the rates of $263m and $273m.
He said, “The NCC from 2017 to 2021 had also generated N799bn and remitted N423bn to the government.
Danbatta further said the broadband penetration in Nigeria stood at 44 percent, with the target to hit 75 percent penetration in 2025.
He added, “The target was to hit 75 per cent penetration in 2025. Hopefully, we will achieve 50 per cent penetration by end of 2022.”
Danbatta advised Nigerians to make use of the 112 emergency national number to report issues of emergency such as fire outbreak, accidents, among others, and a toll free number, 622, to lodge complaints on issues relating to drop calls.
The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, said the Senate would continue to encourage NCC to improve its revenue generation profile to the Federal Government.
