FG approves tax reduction for telecom firms

The Federal Government on Tuesday said that it had resolved to
reduce taxes payable by telecommunications operators in order to
enable them to expand their services to the hinterland.

It stated this through the Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo
Shittu, at the 2017 Information Communications Technology and
Telecommunication Expo in Lagos, which was organised by the Lagos
Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The minister said that the expansion of telecom services to the
hinterland would ensure that many more people, especially the
underserved and unserved populace, had access to basic
services.

In carrying out the government’s decision, Shittu said that the
National Economic Council had approved a policy to harmonise Right
of Ways charges payable by telecommunications companies on local,
state and federal highways.

He said, “The policy, when it comes to fruition, will minimise
the spaces occupied, burden on the roads and reduce taxes payable
by the telecoms operators.

“As such, with the RoW challenges gone, operators can invest in
last mile infrastructure, especially fibre, that will boost
services.”

The minister added that the ministry would liaise with states
and relevant stakeholders for the smooth implementation of the RoW
project.

He also said that the ministry would continue to support the
establishment of companies in the areas of hardware and software
development by ensuring that they were protected through
regulations or other means.

Shittu added, “We will assist them to grow. We have accepted
that Nigeria must take the leadership role in Africa’s Information
and Communications Technology ecosystem.

“We are amenable to Public-Private Partnership relationships to
drive the ministry’s projects. We, therefore, assert that 2017 must
be a year of action.”

The President, LCCI, Dr. Nike Akande, said there was no better
time to harness the benefits of ICT than now “when the economy is
in dire need of diversification.”

She added, “Today, virtually all sectors leverage ICT for
optimal performance. This is evident in the financial services
sector, where electronic banking is now the vogue.”

The Federal Government on Tuesday said that it had resolved to
reduce taxes payable by telecommunications operators in order to
enable them to expand their services to the hinterland.

It stated this through the Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo
Shittu, at the 2017 Information Communications Technology and
Telecommunication Expo in Lagos, which was organised by the Lagos
Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The minister said that the expansion of telecom services to the
hinterland would ensure that many more people, especially the
underserved and unserved populace, had access to basic
services.

In carrying out the government’s decision, Shittu said that the
National Economic Council had approved a policy to harmonise Right
of Ways charges payable by telecommunications companies on local,
state and federal highways.

He said, “The policy, when it comes to fruition, will minimise
the spaces occupied, burden on the roads and reduce taxes payable
by the telecoms operators.

“As such, with the RoW challenges gone, operators can invest in
last mile infrastructure, especially fibre, that will boost
services.”

The minister added that the ministry would liaise with states
and relevant stakeholders for the smooth implementation of the RoW
project.

He also said that the ministry would continue to support the
establishment of companies in the areas of hardware and software
development by ensuring that they were protected through
regulations or other means.

Shittu added, “We will assist them to grow. We have accepted
that Nigeria must take the leadership role in Africa’s Information
and Communications Technology ecosystem.

“We are amenable to Public-Private Partnership relationships to
drive the ministry’s projects. We, therefore, assert that 2017 must
be a year of action.”

The President, LCCI, Dr. Nike Akande, said there was no better
time to harness the benefits of ICT than now “when the economy is
in dire need of diversification.”

She added, “Today, virtually all sectors leverage ICT for
optimal performance. This is evident in the financial services
sector, where electronic banking is now the vogue.”