By Niyi Jacobs
A group of researchers at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) is pushing the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to release the findings of a 2022 study on the country’s telecommunications competition landscape. The study, conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), focused on collocation and infrastructure sharing within Nigeria’s telecom industry.
Led by Professor Adeniran Oluwaranti, the researchers are leveraging the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act to access the report, which has not been made public. They argue that transparency in the telecom industry is essential for fostering competition and innovation.
The release of the report is crucial for improving regulatory frameworks and enhancing Nigeria’s ICT capabilities, with significant implications for both consumers and businesses. The researchers aim to analyze the report’s findings to develop actionable strategies for fostering cutting-edge research in emerging technologies.
Although the NCC has yet to respond to the FOI request, the researchers remain hopeful that the Commission will release the report. They believe that transparency is key to fostering an innovative and competitive telecommunications sector, and that access to the data will benefit not only the academic community but the entire country by promoting evidence-based policymaking.
By releasing the report, the NCC can demonstrate its commitment to transparency and accountability, and provide valuable insights for stakeholders in the telecom industry. The researchers’ efforts to access the report underscore the importance of transparency in promoting innovation and competition in Nigeria’s telecom sector.
