News
NCC surpases revenue projection, post N150bn spectrum fee in 5 months
Nasiru Yusuf
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has exceeded its N36 billion projected revenue from spectrum license fees for 2021, having recorded over N150 billion from this revenue source within the five months of the year.
KANO FOCUS reports that the figure represents over 400 per cent increase in revenue budget performance in respect of spectrum fees generated by the Commission between January 1 and May 31, 2021, reflecting significant contribution to the revenue drive of the Federal Government.
A statement issued on Sunday by commission’s Director Public Affairs Ikechukwu Adinde, said the N150 billion spectrum revenue achieved in the first half of the year has been remitted to the Federal Government in line with the provisions of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA), 2003, which mandates the Commission to remit proceeds from spectrum resources wholly into the government’s Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).
According to the statement the Commission, in its 2021 Budget which was considered and approved by both chambers of the National Assembly in December, 2020, projected a revenue of N36 billion from spectrum fee for the year 2021 but has remarkably surpassed this estimate.
It added that over the years, the NCC has put in place an effective regulatory regime which has significantly facilitated advancements in the nation’s telecoms industry, boosted Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and improved the operations of licensees as well as boosted Federal Government’s revenue generation.
Commenting on the revenue performance, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Umar Garba Danbatta, said that the impressive uptick in spectrum fee was the result of the favourable turn of events for the telecom sector, which at the time of preparing the estimates for the 2021 Budget of the Commission was not clear due to the ravaging impact of COVID-19 on the global economy.
Danbatta noted that the 10-year spectrum fees made by some of the major operators directly impacted the projected spectrum fee favourably, adding that the Commission believes that enthronement of effective regulation will continue to improve the general performance of the telecoms sector.
On October 28, 2020, Danbatta told members of House Committee on Telecommunications while on an oversight function to the Commission that the NCC had generated and remitted N344.71 billion to the Federal Government’s CRF in the last five years.
During the oversight visit, the Chairman of the Committee, Akeem Adeyemi, commended NCC’s Management for the feat and urged the Commission “to sustain its regime of effective regulation of the telecoms sector in a manner that would be more mutually beneficial to the industry stakeholders, including the consumers of the telecoms services, the operators and the Nigerian government.”
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The National President of the Government Arabic Teachers College Gwale Old Students Association (GATCOSA), Professor Kabiru Isa Dandago, is dead.
KANO FOCUS reports that Prof. Dandago, a renowned Professor of Accountancy at Bayero University Kano, died on Wednesday evening. His passing has thrown the academic community and associates into mourning.
In a message shared on GATCOSA’s WhatsApp platform, a Director at the Kano State Ministry of Higher Education, Alhaji Nura Dandago, announced that the funeral prayer for the late professor would be held on Thursday at 9:00 a.m. at his residence in Rijiyar Zaki Quarters, Kano.
Until his death, Prof. Dandago served as the National President of GATCOSA and was widely respected for his contributions to education and public service. He previously served as Commissioner for Finance in Kano State during the administration of former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
Just last Saturday, the late academic presented a paper on economic challenges in Northern Nigeria at a Ramadan Lecture organised by the Islamic Forum of Nigeria, where he spoke passionately about strategies for economic reform and regional development.
Colleagues and admirers described Prof. Dandago as a dedicated scholar and public servant who was deeply committed to building a prosperous and self-reliant nation. His death marks the end of a distinguished career in academia and public service.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The basketball team of Bayero University Kano (BUK) has emerged champions of the Northwest 3×3 Basketball Championship hosted by Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.
KANO FOCUS reports that the victorious team presented the championship trophy to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Haruna Musa, following their impressive performance at the tournament, which featured six universities from across Northern Nigeria.
BUK went unbeaten throughout the competition, winning all six matches and sealing the title with a thrilling 20–18 victory over the host institution, ABU Zaria, in the final.
In the group stage, BUK recorded a 10–0 win against Northwest University, Kano, and defeated the Air Force Institute of Technology 33–20. The team also edged the Federal University of Education, Kano, 11–9, before securing another dominant 10–0 victory over the Federal University of Transportation, Daura. They capped their remarkable run with the narrow 20–18 triumph in the final.
The victory marks BUK’s second championship title in the history of the competition, reinforcing the university’s growing reputation in collegiate sports.
Receiving the team, the Vice-Chancellor congratulated the athletes for bringing pride to the institution and urged them to sustain and surpass their current achievements. He reaffirmed the management’s commitment to strengthening sports development in the university and pledged continued institutional and individual support for the players’ sporting careers.
The presentation ceremony concluded with the formal handover of the trophy and cash rewards to the athletes in recognition of their discipline, teamwork and excellence.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano State on Tuesday rolled out the State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (KN-SEMSAS) as part of efforts to strengthen emergency response and improve access to timely healthcare across the state.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, commended the governor for procuring 20 ambulances for the programme, describing the initiative as a strategic step to align the state with ongoing national emergency health interventions. He noted that a formal inauguration of the scheme would be held at a later date.
Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf
Dr. Yusuf said the ambulances would play a critical role in transporting pregnant women to hospitals during labour, thereby reducing maternal and infant mortality. He added that any patient conveyed to a hospital through the scheme would have their transportation costs covered by the government.
He also called on members of the Guild of Medical Directors to support the initiative by procuring additional ambulances to complement government efforts.
Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf inspecting the ambulances
According to the commissioner, the vehicles are expected to respond to distress calls within the shortest possible time, ensuring prompt medical attention for residents in need.
Dr. Yusuf further stated that KN-SEMSAS would provide free, coordinated pre-hospital and emergency care services statewide. He described the establishment of the system as a major milestone in strengthening emergency medical response, reducing preventable deaths, and improving access to life-saving care for the people of Kano State.
The event was attended by the Director-General of the Drugs and Medical Consumables Agency, Pharmacist Ghali Sule; the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KASCHMA), Dr. Rahila Aliyu Mukhtar; and the Director-General of the Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC), Prof. Mahmoud Adamu Abbas.
Group Picture
Goodwill messages were presented by representatives of various stakeholders, including the Lafiya Project, the Kano State Accountability Mechanism (KanSLAM), and the Kano State Fire Service, among others.
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BUK clinches Northwest 3×3 basketball title at ABU Zaria
Kano rolls out emergency medical services, deploys 20 Ambulances
APC constitutes committees for Kano state congress
Lami Maccido, first person to appear on screens of NTA Kano, CTV 67, dies at 72
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