FG Orders NCC To Reduce Cost Of Data With Immediate Effect

6th Nov 2019 @ 11:55 By: Ugbana

The minister of communications and digital economy, Dr Isa Ali Pantami, has again reiterated the need for the review of data prices The minister stated this on Tuesday, November 5 while hosting the NCC board The federal government on Tuesday, November 5 insisted the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) must work out modalities to reduce the price of data in the interest of Nigerians. This was the position of the minister of communications and digital economy, Dr Isa Ali Pantami. Pantami said his office has been inundated with complaints from concerned Nigerians about the high cost of data by telecoms operators. He mandated the management of the NCC led by its board chairman, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, to work out the modalities with other stakeholders in the industry to address the complaints as soon as possible. Senator Durojaiye had led members of the board on a courtesy visit to the minister. “I am urging the management of NCC to work towards reducing the price of data in Nigeria. It is too costly and people are complaining every day,” The Nation quoted the minister as saying. Last month, the minister had directed the NCC to bring to stem the tide of illegal deduction of the data of subscribers and work towards the downward review of the cost. In a related development, the federal government recently the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to develop DNA replication and encoding laboratories to help in the detection and prosecution of criminals in the country. The minister of state, science and technology, Mr. Mohammed Abdullahi, said this at the 2019 National Identity Day organised by NIMC on Monday, September 16. He stressed the need for NIMC to look into the possibility of strategic partnerships with other government agencies to ensure new innovations are introduced to help in combating crime in the country.