Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami has charged the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA) with ensuring that the development of a seamless telecommunications network and infrastructure across West Africa is expedited. Pantami stated this in his opening remarks at the 18th Annual General Meeting of the Assembly holding in Abuja on Wednesday, 10th March 2021.
According to the Minister’s spokesperson, Uwa Suleiman, she said that Pantami noted that the objectives of WATRA can be achieved through the formulation and implementation of sound regulatory policies, programmes and initiatives that will leverage the impressive growth of the sector, especially the Nigerian Telecommunications Sector.
“It is noteworthy that the Nigerian telecommunications sector grew by 15.9% in 2020 from 11.41% in 2019 and 11.33% in 2018, thereby recording the highest growth rate in the last 10 years”. This unprecedented development Pantami noted, “is attributed to the development and implementation of policies and strategies for the Nigerian Digital Economy Sector, one of which is the Nigerian National Broadband Plan, which is aimed at the significant reduction of access gaps through the expansion of broadband in the country”.
The country’s current broadband penetration rate stands at 45.07% as against about 33% at the commencement of the plan.
The West Africa Telecommunication Regulators Assembly (WATRA) was established in November 2004. Its current membership is fifteen (15) countries with headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria
The Secretariat is the administrative organ of WATRA, responsible for the implementation of WATRA policy objectives and programs. The secretariat also provides logistical support and assistance to all WATRA institutions.
Objectives of WATRA is to encourage the establishment of modern legal and regulatory structures for telecommunication service delivery in all States in the sub-region; and to encourage the separation of roles of policy-makers, regulator and licensed operator/service provider and the establishment of distinct, independent and adequately empowered National telecommunications regulatory agencies in the sub-region where such agencies have not been created
