No person or institution can use any frequency spectrum unless such usage has been cleared by what the Communications and Digital Economy Minister calls the “apex body” for such matters in the country.
“Accordingly, any radio frequency-based equipment that is to be installed by any individual, private company, Government or Non-governmental Organisation (NGO) for the purpose of management of the radio frequency spectrum, in whatever guise, must be cleared by the National Frequency Management Council (NFMC), Professor Isa Pantami, Communications and Digital Economy Minister says.
The Minister who also doubles as the NFMC Chairman says that following the 58th Regular Meeting of the Council held on Thursday, 4th August 2022, the body “resolved to remind members of the public, Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Governments that by the provisions of Section 28 of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 (NCA 2003), the NFMC is the apex body for Radio Frequency Spectrum Administration in Nigeria.”
For entities that already have such installations, Pantami says they “must hand them over to the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and arrange on how to collaborate with the Ministry to achieve their objectives. Refusal to declare and hand over such equipment or systems constitute security risk to the nation and may therefore attract severe sanctions and possible prosecution.”
-Professor Isa Pantami, Communications and Digital Economy Minister
Minister says unlicensed use of frequency spectrum is a ‘security risk’
Commercial private companies and organisations, Pantami says, should contact the statutory regulatory bodies, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for commercial broadcasting and telecommunications entities respectively for further clarifications on the issue.
According to the Minister, the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy manages radio frequency spectrum that is used by entities such as Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of Governments, Embassies, Diplomatic Missions, Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs), individuals and private companies/organisations for non-commercial purposes.
Furthermore, Pantami explains, “management of the Radio Frequency spectrum by the Ministry includes planning, assignment, coordination, resolution of harmful interference complaints, monitoring and licensing of radio frequency spectrum and radio communication stations for the category of users mentioned above.”
According to the Minister, “no civil MDA, individual, private, or public entity is authorized to install radio frequency-based equipment for the purpose of monitoring or managing the spectrum of its organisation or sector unless it is cleared and duly authorized by the NFMC.”
For entities that already have such installations, Pantami says they “must hand them over to the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and arrange on how to collaborate with the Ministry to achieve their objectives. Refusal to declare and hand over such equipment or systems constitute a security risk to the nation and may therefore attract severe sanctions and possible prosecution.”
The Communications and Digital Economy Ministry will continue to support the development of Nigeria’s digital economy in a safe and sustainable way, according to Pantami.
Radio frequency spectrum, NCC says on its website, is one of Nigeria’s key natural resources of great economic value as a result of its direct application in telecommunications, broadcasting, military operations, and scientific research in addition to a range of other socioeconomic activities such as social services, law enforcement, education, healthcare, transportation, etc.
“As a result, many industries depend heavily on the efficient utilization of radio frequency spectrum,” according to the telecoms regulator.
“These crucial factors, therefore, make it mandatory for the government to develop comprehensive and clear-cut policies that will ensure that spectrum resource is optimally utilised for the overall benefit of the nation. As an agency of Government, the NCC is charged with the responsibility to develop and adopt polices in accordance with the following policy objectives that will ensure that this scarce resource is well managed in its area of responsibility,” the telecoms regulator says.
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