The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has restated the need for strategic collaboration and capacity building to accelerate the current drive to deepen broadband penetration and digital transformation in the country.
The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the commission, Dr. Aminu Maida, who made this remark in his goodwill message delivered at a Fibre Optics Training Workshop in Abuja, stressed that robust and well-regulated fibre infrastructure remained critical to any digital transformation agenda.
Represented at the forum by the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services of the commission, Engr. Abraham Oshadami, the EVC described the training with the theme ‘Strategic Fibre Optics Infrastructure Deployment and Regulatory Management’ as timely given the efforts by the NCC and other stakeholders to improve Nigeria’s fibre infrastructure capacity.
Maida said: “As a nation committed to bridging the digital divide and accelerating broadband penetration, we recognise that strategic fibre deployment is a catalyst for economic growth, financial inclusion, education, healthcare, agriculture and efficient public service delivery.”
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The industry expert explained that the Federal Government, through the Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth Project (BRIDGE) being facilitated by the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, would deploy an additional 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable nationwide.
The EVC, who said that the Project BRIDGE was designed to expand internet connectivity and deepen digital inclusion across all the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the country, listed high cost of Right of Way (RoW) charges and bureaucratic bottlenecks at subnational levels as major constraints to broadband expansion, alongside infrastructure vandalism.
According to him, in response to these constraints, the commission had prioritised strategic collaboration with other regulatory agencies, subnational governments and security institutions to facilitate seamless deployment and protection of telecom infrastructure in the country.
Maida disclosed that through such collaboration, 13 states had so far waived RoW charges even as the advocacy for investment was already attracting increased investment from telecom operators.
The EVC also spoke on the 2024 Presidential Order which designated telecommunications infrastructure are Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNI), to enhance its protection nationwide, as positively impacting on the security of infrastructure in the telecoms sector
Describing sustained collaboration as a central pillar of the commission’s regulatory approach to drive infrastructure deployment and sectoral growth, he reaffirmed NCC’s commitment to human capital development, adding that a well-trained workforce was essential to achieving a fully connected and digitally empowered nation.
Maida expressed optimism that the five-day training would equip participants with the knowledge and skills required to improve regulatory efficiency, enhance stakeholder engagement and accelerate fibre deployment nationwide.
to strengthen digital knowledge and support policy development in participating countries.
Earlier, in her goodwill message, Head of Section, Green and Digital Economy Delegation of the EU, Ms Inga Stefanowicz, said the EU’s global strategy prioritised key sectors, namely digital infrastructure, transport, energy, renewable energy, health and education.
She said that the strategy, designed to guide funding, mobilise access to finance and expertise, and support investments in critical sectors through close collaboration with the private sector, had been implemented in many African countries, including Nigeria.
Stefanowicz expatiated: “As we realise, whether it is donor funding or government budgets, the infrastructure needs are too vast to be funded solely by public resources. That is why we promote solutions that allow the private sector to play a greater role in bridging these gaps.”
Stefanowicz cited the EU’s digital economy package for Nigeria, launched in 2022, as a major intervention, with investments amounting to 820 million euros, including 160 million euros in grants and additional development financing.
She said that the package covered a broad spectrum of the digital ecosystem, including “digital skills development, support for digital businesses, innovation hubs, and digital public infrastructure, with a strong focus on fibre optic expansion.
“The initiative will further strengthen partnerships between Europe and Africa, fostering deeper collaboration at both public and private sector levels”, she added.
The EU official urged participants to actively engage in the training and take advantage of future opportunities provided by the EU and its partners.
The five-day intensive training was organised by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in collaboration with Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) with support from the European Union (EU).
