The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has commended the Ondo State Government for its move to deploy broadband infrastructure through the Odua Infraco and charged other states to invest in such critical telecom facilities in the collective efforts to deepen broadband penetration in the country.
The NCC’s management gave the commendation when a delegation of Ondo State Government, led by the Chairman of Ondo State Information Technology Agency (OSITA), Olumbe Akinkugbe, visited the NCC management to seek advice on the best ways to enjoy seamless deployment of broadband in the state, taking a cue from the recent Broadband Technical Awareness Forum (BTAF) organized for State Governors in Abuja by the Commission.
Speaking during the meeting with the Odua Infraco team, the NCC’s Director, Legal and Regulatory Services, Josephine Amuwa, who received the delegation on behalf of the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, commended the state government for its timely pursuit of the programme and assured the commission’s readiness to help the government achieve milestones in broadband infrastructure deployment in the state.
The Director said: “We consider the meeting a watershed in our efforts at transforming Nigeria into a major digital hub in Africa, through transforming all the states of the Federation. We are particularly elated by the fact that your request for this engagement came on the heels of the Broadband Technical Awareness Forum (BTAF) organized by the Commission, for which we received a very positive scorecard from you.”
Shel listed the challenges impeding the progress of broadband infrastructure deployment in the country as including, Right-of-Way (R-o-W) issues, indiscriminate charges and levies, and hostilities by local communities; among others.
To achieve the objective of the state government initiative, a tripartite committee to discuss the Ondo State Government plan with the Odua InfraCo, and the Commission, was set up to deliberate and harness mutual benefits; and to recommend the best ways to drive the actualization of such mutual benefits to the nation, the state and citizens.
The committee is to report to the Ondo State Executive Council through NCC’s EVC on monthly basis.
The collaboration particularly targets how to use Information Communication Technology (ICT) to deliver more government services and simplify government operations.
