Telecommunications companies in Nigeria under the umbrella body of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) have enjoined the Nigerian government to enact policies geared towards protecting small ICT companies in the country and to ensure their survival.

Speaking in Lagos, Lanre Ajayi,, ATCON president said small ICT companies in Nigeria are struggling to survive in a market that is dominated with large foreign companies who are competing with the indigenous small ICT firms.

Without the enactment of policies to protect them, Ajayi said small ICT companies in Nigeria will continue to struggle and subsequently die.

“Many small and medium enterprises in the ICT industry had gone under in the past years,” he said. “Threats to the surviving ones might eventually lead to their death if nothing was done.”

He said the only way to address these challenges is advocate for a strong policy and stronger regulation for the industry.

“Many companies are having challenges; even the big ones. Everybody is expressing concern that the environment is becoming volatile. There is unfair competition from foreign players which is unfavourable to the indigenous small ICT companies,” he said.

“Small and medium indigenous ICT companies are the ones providing jobs and adding value to the economy, hence, the government must ensure their protection. While ATCON is not against foreign players coming to the industry, the government must put in place policies that would ensure their operations do not strangulate local operators.”