By Ayomide Otitoju
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) as part of efforts to drive economic growth through technology and communications.
The governor gave the assurance on Thursday while receiving the Governing Board of the NCC, led by its Chairman, Chief Idris Olorunnimbe, during a courtesy visit to Lagos House, Marina.
Governor Sanwo-Olu said the Lagos State Government remains open to investments and is prepared to go beyond expectations to encourage growth in technology, communications and other key sectors critical to economic development.
Describing the NCC as one of the most forward-looking commissions of the Federal Government, the governor commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing individuals of proven integrity to lead the commission. He noted that the communications industry remains a major enabler of Nigeria’s economy and a vital driver of national growth.
According to him, the sector represents a strong service industry with significant potential to deepen Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). He added that Lagos is willing to serve as a testbed for innovative policies and initiatives that can be replicated across the country to ensure inclusive development.
“We will continue to support the NCC. Lagos is not a government that is averse to investment. Technology and communication are among the next major growth paths, and we are ready to leverage them as strong enablers for economic expansion and development,” Sanwo-Olu said.
Earlier, Chief Olorunnimbe described Governor Sanwo-Olu as a mentor, recalling that his first experience on a public sector board came through an appointment to the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund under the governor’s leadership.
He noted that the visit marked the first official engagement of the newly inaugurated NCC Governing Board, stressing the strategic importance of Lagos to the commission’s operations.
Olorunnimbe said there are still unserved and underserved areas within Lagos, explaining that some locations are considered commercially unattractive by telecom operators due to infrastructure costs and return on investment concerns.
He appealed to the Lagos State Government to lead by example by granting free right of way in such areas as an incentive to encourage operators to extend services to underserved communities. He added that the NCC would collaborate with the state Commissioner and the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA) to design and implement the initiative as a pilot scheme for adoption in other states.
