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By Ngozi Onyeakusi—The Nigerian Communications Commission has said the plan for Fifth Generation technology deployment in Nigeria is at 97 per cent readiness. The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, said this at the annual African Tech Alliance Forum themed ‘Embracing changes and digital transformation in the new normal’. This is according to a statement titled ‘NCC upbeat on plans for 5G deployment’ issued on Thursday by the NCC’s Deputy Manager, Public Affairs, Kunle Azeez. Danbatta, who was represented by the commission’s Director, Spectrum Administration, Oluwatoyin Asaju, said, “Already, we are set for the auction of some spectrum slots in the 3.5GHz band. The other day I was at the National assembly, I informed the senate that we were 95 per cent ready for 5G. “Today as we speak, I am delighted to tell you that we are already at 97 per cent completion. “The committee set up to auction the spectrum has already developed an Information Memorandum which is already published for inputs and comments from all industry stakeholders. “Prior to this, a 5G deployment plan was developed and we have since secured the Federal Government’s approval.” Earlier, he had said that because of the COVID-19 pandemic, almost every means of communication became virtual.