The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the Universal Service
Provision Fund (USPF), and three other agencies under the Ministry of
Communications and Digital Economy have continued to implement
people-oriented projects to advance the digital economy agenda of
President Muhammad Buhari.
The other agencies are the National Information Technology Development
Agency (NITDA), Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT),
Galaxy Backbone, and the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST).
Their commitment in this direction was, once again, demonstrated during
the virtual commissioning of 11 new Information and Communications
Technology (ICT) projects implemented by the agencies under the Ministry
of Communications and Digital Economy by the Minister, Dr. Isa Ali
Ibrahim Pantami, in Abuja at the Digital Economy Complex on Tuesday,
August 11, 2020.
The projects, which were commissioned virtually across the country by
the Minister include the Emergency Communication Centres (ECC’s) in
Ilorin, Kwara State, and Calabar, Cross River. Other projects
commissioned include the e-Health/Data Sharing Centre, Medical College,
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; and Virtual Examination
Centre, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, all implemented by the
NCC.
Two projects executed by the USPF were also commissioned; they include,
the Tertiary Institution Knowledge Centre (TIKC), Delta State, and
School Knowledge Centre (SKC) located at Government Day Secondary
School, Hassan Central, Gombe State. NITDA implemented three projects:
the Information Technology (IT) and Incubation Park, University of
Ayangba, Kogi State, ICT Capacity Building Centres at the College of
Education, Gumel, Jigawa State and the Federal University of Technology,
Owerri, Imo State.
Also commissioned were the new Neighborhood Post Office/NIRSAL
Microfinance bank branch, Delta State and the Remodeled National Mail
Exchange Centre (Mbiama), Ahoada West Local Government Area of River
State executed by NIPOST.
Speaking at the commissioning, Pantami, who noted that over 500 projects
have been executed by agencies under the ministry in the past five
years, said the projects are connected to the tripartite agenda of the
President focusing on enhancing national security, diversification of
the economy and curbing corruption.
Pantami stated that the 11 projects are in sync with seven of the eight
pillars of the country’s National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy
(NDEPS) unveiled by the President last year. He thanked the President
for being supportive of the Ministry’s initiative towards addressing
extant challenges of vandalism of telecom infrastructure, Right of Way
(RoW) issues, among others in order to accelerate broadband penetration
to 70 percent as envisaged by the National Broadband Plan (2020-2025).
Chairman, NCC Governing Board, Prof. Adeolu Akande thanked the Minister
for the visibility he is giving the projects being executed by the
agencies under the Ministry. While the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC,
Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, reiterated the commitment of the Commission
towards implementing policies and programmes aimed at fast-tracking the
advancement of digital economy vision of the Federal Government.
The event was well attended by governors and ministers, who were special
guests among whom were the Governor of Imo, who was Chairman of the
occasion, Governor of Gombe State, Minister of Interior, Minister of
State for Education, Minister of State for Mines and Power, as well as
the staff of the Ministry, board members and heads of agencies under the
ministry, among others. The special guests commended the Minister for
commissioning the important projects and for enhancing synergy between
the Ministry and its agencies.