Tayo Busayo, Abuja

 

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has that active telephone lines have hit 208 million.

 

It added that active Internet subscription is now 156 million.

 

The NCC further said 84 assistive Information Technology projects at different locations in Nigeria have also been deployed by the Commission to support people with special needs while supporting policies that enable physically challenged members of the society to live a more productive life.

 

“The E-Accessibility project seeks to meet the ICT needs of persons living with disabilities in Nigeria by providing ICT tools, assistive technologies, training, and Internet provision in the identified locations, the Commission said in a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka.

 

Between 2012 to 2020, the NCC has deployed the E-Accessibility Projects in, at least, 84 locations nationwide, Muoka added.

 

According to him, the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta, made the remarks during a visit by a delegation from National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) at the headquarters of the Commission in Abuja.

 

Danbatta, while receiving the NCPWD team led by its Executive Secretary, James Lalu, said the telecom regulator has always implemented initiatives aimed at ensuring digital inclusivity for all Nigerians regardless of their circumstances.

 

Represented by the Director, Human Capital and Administration at NCC, Usman Malah, the EVC said telecoms sector has become the backbone of the national economy and has recorded tremendous growth from 400,000 telephone lines on the eve of sectoral deregulation in 2000 to over 208 million active telephone lines now, just as active Internet subscription rose to 156 million in the last two decades.

 

The NCC boss said the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Industry’s contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) currently stands at 18.44 per cent, going by the data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) as at the second quarter of 2022.

 

Danbatta added NCC has continued to ensure quality of service delivery to the consumers and digital inclusion for all.

 

Danbatta said the NCC recognises and aligns with the noble objectives behind the establishment of NCPWD as enabled by the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act of 2018.

 

He stated that in addition to implementing the five per cent inclusiveness of persons with disabilities in NCC’s staffing efforts in accordance with the law, the telecom regulator, through the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), has executed many projects within the framework of its E-Accessibility Programme in last 10 years that targets the challenged members of the society.

 

“In other words, the project provides ICT tools and Assistive Technologies (ATs) to the blind, the deaf, dumb, crippled, cognitively impaired, and other categories of people living with disabilities. As disadvantaged members of society, the project is designed to assist in improving the quality of life of people living with disability,” he said.