Abuja, Nigeria – 7 August 2025 – The West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA) has commended Nigeria’s leadership in advancing broadband mapping harmonization across West Africa during the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Africa Broadband Mapping (BB-Maps) National Event, held in Abuja from 5 to 7 August 2025.
The three-day event, organized under the pilot phase of the Africa-BB-Maps project, brought together key stakeholders from across the world to share experiences, align strategies, and strengthen regional cooperation in broadband infrastructure mapping.
Funded by the European Union and implemented by the ITU, the Africa-BB-Maps project is a four-year (2025–2028) initiative aimed at establishing or strengthening harmonized national broadband mapping systems in 11 Sub-Saharan African countries: Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The project supports national regulatory authorities (NRAs) in mapping infrastructure and service coverage, identifying connectivity gaps, and driving data-based policy and investment decisions.
WATRA’s Active Role
WATRA was represented by Mr. Ruffus Samuel, Principal Manager, Partnerships, who actively participated in the “Context and Current State – Intervention by International Partners” session. His intervention underscored the importance of harmonizing broadband mapping frameworks within ECOWAS and WATRA member states to accelerate digital transformation in the region.
Recognizing NCC’s Leadership
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) presented its national broadband mapping model, which was widely acknowledged as a best-practice reference for West Africa and beyond. Stakeholders praised NCC’s technical expertise and strategic leadership in laying a strong foundation for interoperable and scalable broadband mapping systems.
“Regional bodies like ECOWAS and WATRA must continue to champion cooperation and knowledge sharing,” said Mr. Samuel. “Nigeria’s progress demonstrates that harmonization is not only possible but also essential to bridging connectivity gaps and unlocking Africa’s digital potential.”
Looking Ahead
WATRA reaffirmed its commitment to supporting regional harmonization efforts and strengthening collaboration with NCC, ITU, and other stakeholders. The Assembly also pledged to leverage similar platforms for knowledge exchange, capacity building, and policy alignment across West Africa.
Recommendation
Stakeholders recommended the establishment of a National Broadband Mapping Task Force, to be coordinated and chaired by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). This body would bring together all relevant stakeholders under a clear data governance framework to ensure:
- Regular and timely data updates
- Adoption of standardized data formats
- Availability of trusted and verifiable data sources
Participants placed strong emphasis on collaboration as the foundation for success—highlighting that effective broadband mapping requires open data sharing, inter-agency cooperation, and sustained engagement between public, private, and development partners.
