The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, has disclosed that the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy budgeted about N41.6 billion for the implementation of its broadband provision and connectivity to airports, tertiary institutions and select markets nationwide.
The minister, who made this disclosure on Thursday during a media briefing on ‘The Provision of Broadband and Connectivity for Airports, Tertiary Institutions and Markets Across Nigeria’ in Abuja, said that the initiative was undertaken by the ministry, with support by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), as part of its commitment to the transformation of Nigeria to a wholly powered digital economy, especially by supporting critical sectors with great potential to impact positively on the nation’s socio-economic growth.
He explained the funding was part of the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the ministry that it should have committed to activities with potential to boost its increasing contributions to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) but is being used to support the key sectors under the first three phases of the project’s implementation across the geo-political zones in the country.
Pantami, who recalled the efforts made by him to get the funding approved by President Buhari, said that under the first three phases of the project’s implementation, telephone subscribers in the affected tertiary institutions, airports and markets, would have free and unlimited internet connectivity in their locations.
He hinted that a total of 49 tertiary institutions, 20 airports, and six markets across the 36 states of the country and the Federal Capital Territory were approved to benefit under the first three phases, adding more will benefit in subsequent phases of the project.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the NCC, Professor Adeolu Akande, in his remarks, said that the move by the Ministry to provide broadband and Internet connectivity to the universities and other tertiary institutions would promote research, enhance teaching, and create a more conducive technology-powered environment to all stakeholders in the beneficiary institutions, airports and markets.
In her remarks, the Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University and one of the beneficiaries of the broadband connectivity projects, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, commended the Minister for the support to several tertiary institutions, airports and markets nationwide, adding that before the ministry’s intervention, adequate data availability in her institution remains a challenge for researchers, lecturers and students’ needs.
