Iwuanyanwu calls for more investments in ICT sector

National President, Consumer Rights Advocacy Networks (CRANET), Dr. Martins Iwuanyanwu, has called on investors in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to take advantage of the growing market by investing in the sector, reports CHARLES OKOH.

He said there are still a lot of underserved areas waiting to be tapped.

Iwuanyanwu who is also the founder, Emerging Leaders Network (El-net) Club, while speaking in Lagos recently, said the nation would be a force to be reckoned with in the nearest future in ICT.

He said the Nigerian market is quite huge, not just in the ICT but also in other sectors, adding that the population of the nation can attract investment from any part of the world.

“People were suggesting that with three major GSM operators there might not be need for new entrants, but Etisalat came in and subscribers now have enough choice to choose from; which is the main reason that the NCC is talking about number portability. It is an evolving market and several elements are at play. In a matter of time you will discover that we still have a very huge underserved market. So, I encourage investors to come in because there are a lot of opportunities open to them,” he said.

He also called on the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to continue to pursue reduction in tariff, maintaining that Nigerians should begin to enjoy the benefits of increased bandwidth in 2011.

“The emergence of MainOne and Glo 1 would not amount to anything if there is no reduction in the cost particularly in Internet access and also improved quality of service. The average Nigerian wants to have internet facility in his home. We expect that in 2011, the cost of internet access should not be more than N1,000 per month,” he said

He also challenged the Dr. Eugene Juwah-led NCC to strengthen the working relationship between advocacy groups and the NCC, adding that some of its members are already complaining.

“I think the way out is to find a way of building the house collectively and not pulling it down,” he said.

Iwuanyanwu called on operators to be fair to their subscribers by not only reducing tariff but also ensuring quality of service at all times.

“It is only for the operators to understand that they do not have to eat their tomorrow today. Some of them appear to want to recoup their investment in a hurry, it should not be so. Nigeria is not going to collapse so I do not see the need for the hurry,” he said.
 
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