Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), has expressed admiration for the leadership of Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Adebayo commended the NCC’s commitment to quality regulation and attributed the success of the telecom industry in Nigeria to the favorable regulatory environment provided.
During a meeting held at the NCC’s office in Lagos to discuss the implementation of the Expanded Revenue Assurance Solution (ERAS) in the telecommunications industry, Adebayo praised Danbatta’s administrative skills, challenging the notion that engineers are not adept administrators. He described Danbatta as an excellent administrator and recognized his instrumental role in the growth and development of the industry.
Danbatta addressed the audience and shared insights into the ERAS project’s implementation. He highlighted the collaboration between the NCC and the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC), stating that the project follows a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement based on the DFDDOT model (Design, Finance, Develop, Deploy, Operate, and Transfer) recommended by the ICRC.
Danbatta acknowledged the NCC’s efforts in turning the ERAS project, conceived in 2007, into a reality. He emphasized that the project aligns with the Federal Government’s directive to enhance revenue collection and prevent leakages within ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
Through the deployment of the Revenue Assurance Solution, the NCC aims to optimize the revenue payable by licensed telecommunications service providers, thereby bolstering government revenue generation.
Originally focused on telecom operators, the ERAS project has undergone significant expansion. Following a presidential approval in June 2022, the NCC was directed to broaden the project’s scope to include the activities of Digital Economy stakeholders. Consequently, the project was renamed the Expanded Revenue Assurance Solution (ERAS).
