Adebayo Shittu, Minister of Communications on Monday urged all the telecommunication companies operating in Nigeria to take advantage of the enabling operating environment to enlist on the Nigerian Stock Exchange before government wield its big stick.
Shittu who gave the charge at he launch of the nationwide roll out of Lumos Mobile Electricity powered by MTN, expressed optimism that the initiative will enable Nigerians across the country to invest in the telecoms industry.
While beckoning on other telecoms operators to emulate MTN in the provision of quality services and corporate social responsibility in various sectors of the economy, charged the telecoms operators to improve quality of services, drop calls and unsubscribed messages.
He noted that there is no commesurate result coming from the huge investment and resources made into the energy sector by previous administrations due to bad leadership, reiterated the present administration’s resolve to address the challenges.
Shittu who applauded the MTN’s ‘smart solar power’ project, however acknowledged the huge investment made by the telecom firms to provide power and other infrastructure.
“We invited telecommunication companies to invest in Nigeria and they brought their personnel and capital. B it’s only in Nigeria that they rely on self generated power to power their infrastructure,” he noted.
In his remarks, Ferdi Moolman, MTN Chief Executive Officer reiterated the resolve of the telecom firm towards giving credibility to the smart solar power project in Nigeria.
He also noted that the innovation and power provides opportunity to drive socio-economic development in the most populated African nation, stressing that the launch of the MTN-Lumos solar power initiative marks a new era of telecoms power generation.
According to him, MTN and its partners have over the past two years working earnestly to ensure actualisation of the project aimed at bringing succour to Nigerians across the country.
In his keynote address, Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Power, Works and Housing who applauded the initiative, noted that that Nigeria needs energy mix to meet the yearnings of over 170 million population.
He noted that other companies are planning to launch similar alternative energy initiatives in the country, as part of ongoing efforts to bridge the power deficit.
Fashola who underscored the giant stride of MTN in the areas of healthcare service delivery including kidney dialysis, employment generation and various sector, noted that Nigeria must adopt energy mix including solar, hydro, wind, gas and coal to meet the needs of over 170 million population.
According to him, the MTN’s solar power initiative will help in achieving incremental power as soon as possible in a sustainable form especially for villages and hamlets not yet connected to the national grid.
In his remarks, Mr. Davidi Vortman, Lumos Global CEO who announced the nationwide roll out of Lumos Mobile Electricity powered by MTN disclosed that the revolution was made possible by OPIC, the US Government development finance institution, which has committed $50 million for mobile electricity.
“MTN, our partner which shares the vision and the innovation that allows us to change the lives of millions of Nigerians.
“Imagine a Nigeria in which there is constant electricity, no noise, no fumes, no fuel, where businesses stay open longer, kids can do their homework later, where you can watch football on Saturday and where you can get a good night’s sleep.
“Nigeria has huge potential for solar electricity. The cost of solar power is coming down, and Nigeria’s need for affordable, reliable, and clean electric power has never been greater. Nigerians are paying more for power and getting less because they don’t have good alternative to small generators. This ends now – there is a new way for better living!
“Lumos provides the Nigerian people affordable, reliable, and clean power – no noise, no fumes, no flammable fuel, and no maintenance. More than 150,000 people across 30,000 locations in Nigeria already enjoy 24/7 electricity that allows them to do more – more light, more phone charging, more laptops, more TV and more fan.
“Our objective is to make Mobile Electricity very scalable and extremely easy for the customer. Within the same day, you can register for the service at the MTN store, take the system with you home and use one of our local installers to put the panel on your roof. It is very safe and you get 24/7 electricity with 5 years of service included.
“Today 150,000 people are enjoying a new type of electricity! In their homes and small business people can rely on constant light, charge phones 24/7 and enjoy a fan and a TV. Business can extend their opening hours and increase productivity and clinics can take good care of their patients at night. Our objective standing here today is to bring this innovation to every city and every village in Nigeria, providing better living!”
Also speaking, Usoro Uso, MTN’s General Manager, Mobile Financial Services disclosed plans towards provision of 2 million MTN-Lumos boxes in the next three years.
He assured that the technology will impact on over 10 million Nigerians including MTN customers by improving access to 24/7 electricity from natural sources.
According to him, the company is partnering with banks and other financial institutions with the view to extend financial services to Nigerians across the country.
