today-is-a-good-day
4.3 C
New York
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsEconomyMinister, LASMIRA push for lower call tariff

Minister, LASMIRA push for lower call tariff

For more benefits of Nigeria’s telecommunications revolution to the citizens, the Minister for Communications Technology, Adebayo Shittu, and General Manager, Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA), Babajide Odekunle, have called for lower call tariff.

To achieve this, Shittu identified tackling the issue of Right of Way (RoW), stressig that this must be resolved by the three tiers of government.

He added that active involvement and participation of all the stakeholders to dialogue on the modalities for harmonising the tariff charges in the telecommunications industry was imperative at this time.

The minister spoke when the LASIMRA chief and his team paid a working visit on the minister in Abuja.

According to Shittu, there was need to push for actions on the adoption of a common tariff such that would allow common man to have access to telephony, get the best services and be able to afford the call rate.
This, according to him, is because the operators would always shift the levies back to the consumers.

He said the Federal Government was ready to collaborate with all the stakeholders in the industry and do whatever that can be done to ensure a new lease of life for the consumers.
According to Shittu, the telecommunications operators are the collective benefactors of all Nigerians, adding that the costs of diesel to power the generators and other financial implication in maintaining the industry are possibly some of the considerations responsible for the high call tariff that could not be compared to what is obtainable in other climes.
Responding, Odekunle formally congratulated the minister on his appointment and wished him a successful tenure in office.

He said the giant strides made by the minister within his short stay in the information communication technology (ICT) industry reflect the preparedness of the minister for public service.

Advertisements

He told the minister that LASIMRA is the government agency responsible for the regulation and maintenance of telecom infrastructure in Lagos, adding that it also grants RoW for underground metropolitan cable laying across the state.
He pledged the support of Lagos State government to the National Broadband Plan (NBP) of the Federal Government because the state believes its benefits are overwhelming as it is critical to economic development.

The LASIMRA chief said the NBP would increase Internet penetration, thereby boosting the capacities of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and creating jobs to grow the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country.

Odekunle said more than 60 per cent of the telecom market is based in Lagos State adding that by implication, telecommunications operators should partner and collaborate with the state government in its quest in the areas of compliance with existing statutes and regulations particularly, payment of levies and charges and also adhering strictly to safety and maintenance standards prescribed for infrastructure facilities across the state.
He said the agency is planning to have all the database of the infrastructure and set the record straight and be abreast of happenings in the industry.

According to him, the issue on co location remains the best option and most appropriate for the telecom industry but stressed that it requires utmost cooperation and great understanding among the operators to wholeheartedly endorse it.

Advertisements

RELATED ARTICLES

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

- Advertisment -

Most Popular

Recent Comments

Onuegbu Chuks Theophilus on Mikel Obi quits Super Eagles
Thomas H. Anderson on Roman Goddess_3
Oladimeji Emmanuel on Obama sends investors to Buhari