Lagos pledges support for NCC to drive economic growth

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 members of the Governing Board of the NCC, led by its Chairman, Chief Idris Olorunnimbe, during a courtesy visit to Lagos House, Marina.

Sanwo-Olu said the Lagos State Government remains open to investments and would go beyond expectations to encourage growth in technology, communications and other key sectors of the economy. He described the NCC as one of the most forward-looking federal government agencies and commended President Bola Tinubu for appointing individuals of proven integrity to steer the commission.

According to the governor, the communications sector remains a critical service industry capable of deepening Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product and accelerating national development.

“This is a national assignment, and we want Lagos to serve as a strong demonstration and test point to push development across the country,” Sanwo-Olu said. “Technology and communication are among the next growth paths we want to be part of, and we will continue to support the NCC to achieve this.”

He added that Lagos would leverage technology as a key enabler to close development gaps and promote inclusive growth, stressing that his administration is not averse to investment.

Earlier, the NCC Board Chairman, Chief Idris Olorunnimbe, described Governor Sanwo-Olu as a mentor and noted that the Lagos visit was the first official engagement of the newly inaugurated NCC board. He said Lagos plays a crucial role in the commission’s operations and overall growth of the telecommunications sector.

Olorunnimbe highlighted challenges of connectivity in some parts of the state, noting that several communities remain unserved or underserved due to limited commercial viability for operators. He appealed to the Lagos State Government to consider granting free right of way in such areas as an incentive to encourage infrastructure deployment.

He said the NCC would collaborate with the Lagos State Ministry of Communications, as well as the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA), to design and implement the initiative as a pilot scheme that could be replicated in other states.

The visit, he said, underscores NCC’s commitment to improving nationwide connectivity and supporting economic growth through expanded telecommunications infrastructure.