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President Muhammadu Buhari has set ambitious targets for a national
broadband network to harness the potential of the internet and digital
access for jobs, education, healthcare, identity management and to
increase productivity in the public sector.
To this end, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and the Nigeria
Industrial Policy and Competitiveness Advisory Council, chaired by Vice
President Yemi Osinbajo, have jointly launched the National Broadband
Penetration Programme, a public-private initiative to ensure the
deployment of 18,000km of fibre infrastructure to Nigeria’s existing stock
of 38,000km of fibre cabling.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity,
Garba Shehu, stated this at the just-concluded 5th World Internet
Conference in Wuzhen, China.
He explained that the “goal is to, within four years, provide fibre
connectivity to all 774 Local Government Areas of Nigeria. Government’s
role is to provide the right licensing framework as well as the necessary
subsidies to encourage investment.”
He revealed that two additional infrastructure companies have been
licensed in 2018, to roll out broadband infrastructure in Nigeria.
“Together with previous licensees, and other private sector players, these
companies will help implement the Government’s vision of total national
broadband connectivity,” he said.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President told the conference that
Nigeria’s Social Investment Programme, including the N-Power Youth
Employment Scheme, has provided 500,000 beneficiaries with electronic
tablet devices for learning and self-development.
“Another aspect of the N-Power focuses on training young software
engineers and coders,” he said.
The presidential aide further told the international gathering that the
Buhari administration has begun the development of “Technology &
Innovation Hubs” across the country, in partnership with the private
sector, adding that a total of eight these hubs are planned across the
country, with four already functional.
He also spoke about partnerships between the Nigerian Government and
Facebook, Google, and Huawei to roll out high-quality Internet across the
country, adding that the recently established Technology Advisory Body
chaired by the Vice President will provide support to tech companies and
initiatives.
He specifically thanked Chinese Companies like Huawei for being supportive
of the Nigerian Government’s efforts at digital inclusion and expanding
access.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President lauded Huawei for sponsoring
Nigerian students for ICT training in China, recalling that in 2016 the
company opened a Technology Hub, the Huawei Innovation and Experience
Centre, in Lagos with a pledge to train 12,000 Nigerians, including 2,000
civil servants.