The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday launched the free wifi zones in Wuse 2 market of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT – Abuja.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Laolu Akande, quoted the Vice President as describing the occasion as “a very exciting day for me”.
According to him, the free wifi zones would be extended to 200 other places next year.
It would be recalled that Google had promised free wifi for Nigerian markets and other public places including airports as part of the takeaways of the Vice President’s visit to Silicon Valley, United States this year.
In fulfillment of the promise, the tech giant, Google, on June 28 this year launched a programme, Google Station, to provide high quality Wi-Fi to millions of Nigerians.
Speaking at the launch in Lagos, the company’s country director in Nigeria, Juliet Ehimuan-Chiazor, said that her company, in partnership with one of Nigeria’s largest fibre network providers, 21st Century, would be launching the programme in 200 locations in five cities across Nigeria.
She said: “Google Station will be rolling out in 200 locations in five cities across Nigeria by the end of 2019, bringing Wi-Fi to millions of people.
“Sites include markets, transport hubs, shopping malls, universities, and more. Nigeria is the fifth country to get Google Station, after India, Indonesia, Thailand and Mexico,” Ehimuan-Chiazor added.
