NCC, NLRC sign revised MoU
By Felicia Nwosu
To further demonstrate its dedication to a responsible regulatory environment that ensures universal access to affordable and equitable service and supports the nation’s economic growth, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has signed a revised Memorandum of Understanding with the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC). The revised MOU is expected to deter unapproved lottery and gaming practices on telecommunications platforms through information and intelligence sharing.
Prof. Umar Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, revealed this in Abuja while admitting that the collaboration is in line with the provisions of Commission’s strategic Vision Plan, (SVP), 2021-2025, which provides for the facilitation of strategic partnership and collaboration with other bodies to enhance service delivery as well as impact the gaming industry.
Speaking on the development, Dambatta said, “The initial MoU expired in 2022; amendments and modifications have been made since no MoU is cast in stone, especially given the industry’s dynamic nature.”
Lanre Gbajabiamila, Director General of NLRC, on his part, expressed both optimism and confidence that the signed MoU will yield favourable outcomes in curbing illegal online gambling. He was hopeful that NCC and NLRC will achieve their intentions in the interest of gaming stakeholders.
He noted how unapproved lottery and gaming activities and practices undermine the integrity of domestic and global gaming markets to the detriment of stakeholders in addition to undermining consumer confidence in these markets, hence the collaboration with the Commission to arrest such tendencies.
Meanwhile, Barr. Adeleke Adewolu, the Executive Commissioner, NCC, disclosed that the MoU was designed to address recent technology information-sharing capabilities, consumer satisfaction and to enhance areas of co-regulation in line with the Federal Government’s digital economy mandate.
The new MoU replaces one that was first signed by both organizations, which expired in 2022. Under the agreement, following requests from NLRC, NCC shall endeavour to block or disable illegal lottery gaming operators on the telecommunications service providers’ platform in Nigeria and NLRC
The document was developed by a Joint Implementation Committee (JIC) comprising representatives of NCC and NLRC to implement the MoU and other matters that promote collaboration between both organizations in their regulatory functions.
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