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Tag: Isa Ali Pantami

  • FG inaugurates 129 MDAs to champion digital transformation

    FG inaugurates 129 MDAs to champion digital transformation

    The Federal Government on Thursday inaugurated 129 Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs), to be part of the first phase of Federal Public Institutions (FPIs), Digital Transformation Technical Working Groups (DT-TWGs).

    The inauguration was organised by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and undertaken by Dr Isa Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy in Abuja.

    The group’s inauguration was to ensure that MDAs were part of the Federal Government’s agenda toward developing a digital economy.

    The inauguration held concurrently with the launching of the Government-to-Government Nigeria Government Enterprise Architecture (NGEA) portal, www.ngea.gov.ng which would enable the group to work in synergy.

    Pantami said that digital economy was transforming the way the public sector operated and delivered services to customers, hence the need for MDAs to key in.

    “The digital economy requires among other things adaptive policies, strategies, regulations, standardised infrastructure, globally-competitive workforce, carefully orchestrated and coordinated digital governance structure.

    “Without appropriate digital governance, it becomes difficult for digital investments and implementation to meet strategic objectives and expectations,” Pantami said.

    According to the minister, digital governance is key to managing digital transformation successfully and the failure of IT projects is also being experienced by a number of FPIs.

    He blamed lack of an appropriate digital governance structure either at the individual organisation level or on the government’s end for failures of IT projects.

    Pantami also said that the group’s inauguration was heeding to President Muhammadu Buhari’s directives at the opening ceremony of e-Nigeria conference of 2019.

    “The president ordered that DT-TWGs be established in Federal Public Institutions (FPIs) as e-Government champions and be part of the digital governance structure for the implementation of Nigeria e-Government Master Plan (NeGMP) and National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS).

    “The NDEPS was unveiled and launched by the President on the same day with developmental regulation, digital literacy and skills, solid Infrastructure and service infrastructure as the pillars.

    “The other pillars are soft Infrastructure, Digital Services Development and Promotion, Digital Society and Emerging Technologies and Indigenous Content Promotion and Adoption.

    “The DT-TWG will be an instrument to the implementation of four pillars in NDEPS,” the minister said.

    Pantami said that the capacities of the DT-TWGs members needed to be developed in transformation management, innovation and technical capabilities to enable them to perform the task ahead.

    He urged NITDA to engage the members and their institutions for capacity building and also directed the members to engage their respective staff members for implementation.

    Mr Kashifu Inuwa, Director-General of NITDA, said that digital transformation initiatives might fail if there was lack of strategic architecture.

    Inuwa said the DT-TWGs was being put in place to ensure FPIs were properly guided against pitfalls while implementing digital initiatives, government businesses and digital technologies were properly aligned for the acceleration of digital transformation.

    He added that the Nigeria e-Government Interoperability Framework (Ne-GIF) and NGEA formed the foundation for taking government-wide IT deployment from silo-based to an integrated whole-of-government approach.

    “The current silo situation is as a result of the fact that each public institution is good at deploying IT systems for each of its strategic initiative and specific service.

    “Institutions do not consider national IT architecture and interoperability framework that follows and ensures a pre-determined process, operating model for IT systems deployment across public Institutions.

    “The seven layers of NGEA which are Business, Service, Data, Application, IT Infrastructure, Security and Performance are centred around people and processes.

    “Each layer has high-level expectations for FPIs and as well specifies best practices, standards, tools, reference models and recommendations that will help achieve the value propositions and citizens’ expectations for government digital services,” Inuwa said.

    He stated that NITDA had established NGEA/Ne-GIF National Implementation Committee comprising of about 40 critical FPIs representatives and IT industry players to govern and advise on government-wide digitisation of processes,functions.

    According to him, there is provision of personalised advice to FPIs on their current state of IT deployment and recommendations on business process and IT deployment optimisation, among other intervention initiatives.

    He reiterated that achieving whole-of-Government, calls for a shift in the culture of the public service, the mindset of the public officers and the way e-Government and IT systems were being deployed.

    “The deployment should automatically enable seamless interoperability and exchange of data across Public Institutions.”

    The director-general said the group was saddled with the responsibilities of advocating for digital economy, transformation related activities, guiding automation and digitisation of government business processes, among other functions.

    Inuwa said the DT-TWG comprised of five members cutting across strategic departments with two persons from the IT/ICT/e-Government department and three (3) other persons from core business departments.

    He added that over 400 MDAs were accessed before the selection was made.

  • ICT sector grows as Nigeria’s GDP sees biggest decrease in a decade

    ICT sector grows as Nigeria’s GDP sees biggest decrease in a decade

    The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector of the Nigerian economy contributed an unprecedented 17.83% to the nation’s total real gross domestic product (GDP) in Q2 2020.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports this is 20.54% higher than its contribution a year earlier and in the preceding quarter, in which it accounted for 14.07%, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

    The ‘Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product Report’ for Q2 2020 released by the NBS on Monday showed that Nigeria’s GDP decreased by -6.10% (year-on-year) in real terms in the second quarter of 2020, the biggest decrease in a decade.

    According to the NBS, the decrease was largely attributable to significantly lower levels of both domestic and international economic activity during the quarter, which resulted from nationwide shutdown efforts aimed at containing the COVID-19 pandemic.

    An analysis of the NBS report showed that only 13 activities recorded positive real growth compared to 30 in the preceding quarter. While the non-oil sector contributed 91.07% to the nation’s GDP in Q2 2020, the oil sector contributed 8.93% to total real GDP, the ICT sector leading the way in the non-oil sector.

    When compared with the second quarter, 2019, which recorded a growth of 2.12%, the second quarter, 2020 growth rate indicates a drop of -8.22% points, and a fall of -7.97% points when compared to the first quarter of 2020 (1.87%).

    Consequently, for the first half of 2020, real GDP declined by -2.18% year on year, compared with 2.11% recorded in the first half of 2019. Meanwhile, quarter on quarter, real GDP decreased by -5.04%.

    Meanwhile, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Pantami has expressed excitement over the contribution of the ICT sector to the nation’s GDP.

    In a statement by Dr Femi Adeluyi, Technical Assistant (Information Technology) to the Minister, Pantami noted that the contribution of ICT was unprecedented.

    He attributed the growing contribution of the ICT sector to the GDP to a direct result of the focused and committed effort of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He said the strategic policy directions of the Federal Government include the inclusion of Digital Economy in the mandate of the Ministry, the unveiling and implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy and the National Broadband Plan, amongst others.

    “As at July 2020, the broadband penetration in the country was 42.02%, translating to a percentage increase of almost double digits in less than 1 year. This is another remarkable achievement.

    “The unprecedented contribution of ICT to Nigeria’s GDP can also be attributed to dynamic and results-oriented leadership which has been acknowledged and appreciated by a wide spectrum of the stakeholders in the sector.

    “The support of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has contributed immensely to the impressive developments in the sector. Mr President is excited about the growth of the sector and commended the Honourable Minister when he heard of these achievements.

    “The GDP Report has shown how critical the ICT sector is to the growth of our country’s digital economy and, by extension, the general economy,” the statement read.

    The Minister called on all sectors to take advantage of the federal government’s new focus on the digital economy to enable and improve their processes through the use of ICTs.

    “This would enhance the output of all the sectors of the economy and boost Nigeria’s GDP,” he said.

  • COVID-19: How NCC is sustaining telecoms services for Nigerians

    COVID-19: How NCC is sustaining telecoms services for Nigerians

    The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Umar Danbatta has said despite the pandemic and the lockdown to contain the spread of Covid-19 virus, the NCC did not relent to ensure that the quality of telecoms services is sustained.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Danbatta, who stated this on Friday at the first virtual edition of the telecoms consumer parliament (VTCP), said the Commission took some critical steps in conjunction with the supervising Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy towards mitigating the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on service delivery by the network operators.

    Recall that in the wake of the outbreak of the pandemic in Nigeria, the federal government announced different categories of lockdown measures, which made the mobility and social life of citizens hindered, necessitating the need for individuals, businesses and public institutions to rely more on telecommunications to constantly keep in touch with their relatives, friends and more importantly, for running their daily economic activities.

    Educational activities also increasingly went online following the closing down of schools, while shopping and other activities also migrated online. With all these activities carried out through the internet, network usage is skyrocketing, with many network operators reporting a large increase in data usage. Likewise, the volume of voice calls is increasing by the day.

    Some of the critical steps Danbatta said were emplaced to ensure service delivery is sustained were the approval of resource sharing among network operators and the development of e-platforms where all licensing requests, consumer complaints and base transceiver station (BTS) investigation requests are channelled, and also providence of designated e-mail addresses to be used for such requests throughout the pandemic period.

    “The Commission also secured Right of Passage (RoP) for all telecommunications officials and staff for easy movement during the lockdown and movement restriction in order to be able to service their base stations and keep them active to provide services for telecom consumers who increasingly rely on their networks to work from home. In the same vein, the Commission also secured Right of Passage for suppliers that are involved in supplies of fuels, food and other essential services to telecom operators during the total lockdown,” Danbatta said.

    The NCC EVC/CEO further stated that with the intervention of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami, State Governors are now aligning their Right of Way charges to N145 as approved by the Federal Economic Council (FEC), reducing below N145 per linear of fibre laid by the operators in their States.

    “Other State Governors pegged their RoW charges below the N145 set by the FEC while some state governors have totally waived RoW charges in their states. All these are aimed at encouraging network operators to deploy telecoms/broadband infrastructure faster in their states with a view to deepening digital access.

    “As Covid-19 evolves, a new world order where more activities are conducted online and robust broadband access is central is emerging. In effect, most of the State Governors have appreciated the centrality of robust broadband infrastructure as work-from-home measures by government persists.

    “The Commission is hopeful that with the reduction in RoW, which will automatically result in reduction in capital expenditure (CAPEX) by the network operators, telecom companies will sooner or later reciprocate the gesture by making their services in particular, data services more affordable to Nigerians,” Danbatta said.

  • UK, Nigeria partner on regulatory reforms on right of way

    UK, Nigeria partner on regulatory reforms on right of way

    The UK government says it has partnered with the Nigerian government to advance policy and regulatory reforms on right of way in the country.

    The UK government made this known during the first Nigeria Technical Conference on Right of Way (RoW) organised by its Prosperity Fund Digital Access Programme.

    The webinar was organised in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

    The aim was to further discuss aggregate views from key stakeholders towards the advancement of policy and regulatory reforms on Right of Way (RoW) and Issuance of Planning permits for Mast and Towers.

    The UK government says, through its Prosperity Fund’s Digital Access Programme, it has taken the next step in its pledge to support and promote inclusive and sustainable digital access to the unserved and underserved communities in Nigeria.

    In her opening remarks, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing said: “Nigeria has seen great progress in the effort to provide inclusive digital access to millions of its citizens.

    “The COVID-19 pandemic has, however, made the world rely more heavily on internet connectivity for access to basic necessities – health, education, work, shopping, convenience and other services, as such, substantial digital inequities have been revealed.

    “The UK is keen to support the promotion of affordable, inclusive, safe and secure digital access for underserved and this conference is a significant step to discuss the technical findings of our preliminary study, outcomes, lingering challenges and the way forward.

    “I hope that today’s deliberation will culminate into an increased digital inclusion as a basis for a more thriving local tech ecosystem, generating skilled jobs and innovative solutions for local development challenges.”

    Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Ibrahim Pantami, in his keynote address, said: “I want to thank the UK Government for supporting the Nigeria Digital Economy agenda.

    He noted that earlier the UK Government had supported Nigeria in the development of new national broadband plan through its Digital Access Programme.

    “Nigeria has in the last one year of my time as Minister added 10 per cent to the broadband penetration level in the country,” he said.

    Pantami said RoW reforms was the key to unlocking Nigeria’s digital economy for inclusive digital growth, noting that the ministry had worked with the Nigerian Governors Forum to achieve some important results already.

    He said the ministry would continue to champion the reforms on RoW and work on the challenges identified by the technical study.

    Commenting, Executive Vice Chairman, Nigeria Communications Commission, Prof Umar Danbatta, commended the UK Government’s Digital Access Programme for its support in championing reforms on RoW to deepen digital inclusion in Nigeria.

    Danbatta who was represented by the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, (ECSM) at NCC, Mr Adeleke Adewolu said: “The technical assistance on RoW reforms will assist in our quest for deepening broadband penetration in Nigeria.

    “NCC is willing and ready to advance the reforms noted in the technical study and will collaborate with stakeholders to effect it in the short, medium and long term.” he added.

    Also speaking, the UK Government’s Digital Access Programme Adviser and Country Lead, Idongesit Udoh, said: “This project will help accelerate the roll-out of backbone connectivity infrastructure to underserved communities.

    He noted that the project was key to unlocking Nigeria’s digital economy for inclusive, digitally-enabled growth, development and job creation for Nigerians.

    “The Digital Access Programme is also working on other projects such as cybersecurity essentials upskilling for SMEs around the country and basic digital literacy to promote inclusive economic growth and development,”Udoh said.

    The virtual forum is one of the key deliverables of the UK’s Technical Assistance project on RoW, which was initiated in April 2020 to assess the existing strategy, changing regime and measure economic development indicators.

  • FG inaugurates 11 ICT projects nationwide

    FG inaugurates 11 ICT projects nationwide

    The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, has inaugurated 11 projects in the various Information and Communication (ICT) centres across the country.

    The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, during the virtually inauguration of the projects on Tuesday in Abuja, said they were related to three agenda of the Federal Government.

    The projects inaugurated included Tertiary Institution Knowledge Center and New Neighbourhood Post Office, both in Delta, and Remodeled National Mail Exchange Centre, Mbiama, Rivers.

    Others were e-Health/Data Sharing Centre, Bauchi, Virtual Examination Centre, University of Maiduguri, Information Technology Innovation Centre in Kogi and Information and Technology Capacity Building Centre in Jigawa.

    Also inaugurated were Information Technology Capacity Building Centre in Imo, Emergency Communication Centre in Ilorin, Kwara, and School Knowledge Centre, Gombe.

    “If you look at the projects, you will see that they are all related to the thee agenda of the Federal Government on Nigeria.

    “Number one is security. These emergency communication centres are part of the NCA 2003 Act. The emergency communications centres are to support security institutions. We have one in Kwara.

    “The second agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari is economic development.

    “The IT incubation centres being constructed all over the country and championed by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), will go a long way in promoting and supporting our economy, particularly economic diversification.

    “Thirdly, some of the projects related to e-governance will go along way in fighting corruption.

    “This is because the more our activities are digitalised, the less people will interact physically, and as long as you reduce interaction physically, definitely, you will reduce corruption significantly,” he said.

    Pantami said the projects were executed by the ministry in conjunction with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and NIPOST.

    Speaking with journalists after the inauguration, the Governor of Imo, Sen. Hope Uzodimma, said the state had been using the emergency communication centres to tackle crimes.

    “You will recall that I lunched a few weeks ago, our security outfit and they are making use of the emergency communication centre. The emergency number is 112, courtesy of the NCC.

    “So, it is because of that I have invited the minister to come and commission the project. If you notice, the crime rate in Imo has gone down. We have been tracking down crime syndicates,” he said.

    Other dignitaries present at the event were: the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Minister of Interior, Mr Rauf Aregbesola; Minister of State for Education, Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba and Governor of Gombe State, Inuwa Yahaya, among others.

  • Skills more preferable to qualifications – Pantami

    Skills more preferable to qualifications – Pantami

    The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami has advocated the preference of skills over qualifications, stressing that that individuals with proven skills remained more valuable than those with mere qualifications.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Dr Pantami stated this while delivering an address as the guest lecturer at the Course 82 graduation ceremony of National Defence College on Tuesday in Abuja.

    While revealing that the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy had developed a draft policy document on virtual meetings and engagements in the Federal Civil Service of the country, Pantami said global business and tech giants had since adopted the strategy of the preference of skills over qualifications.

    Speaking further on the draft policy document on virtual meetings and engagements in the Federal Civil Service of the country, Pantami said the document was developed by the ministry in collaboration with the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.

    The Minister informed the guests that the draft document, in line with the ministry’s mandate to promote a Digital Economy was ready to be presented at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in the coming weeks.

    He explained that the COVID-19 pandemic had forced the nation to adopt the use of technology in governance and this had necessitated the urgency to promote e-governance in an orderly manner.

    “As enshrined in the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy Document the new policy will promote the pillars of service infrastructure as well as digital services development and promotion represented as pillars four and five.

    “Pillar four says service infrastructure, while pillar five says digital services development and promotion,” he said.

    On the issue of security, Pantami said that the real warfare was fought in the cyberspace as cyber criminals operate at a speed far ahead of the speed of law and called for measures to ensure the space was secured.

    “We must take very deliberate steps to ensure that our cyberspace is significantly secured,” he said.

  • Pantami commissions ICT projects to drive Nigeria’s digital economy

    Pantami commissions ICT projects to drive Nigeria’s digital economy

    The Kaduna Emergency Communication Centre (ECC) built by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), alongside five Information Technology projects by other agencies under the Ministry Communications and Digital Economy have been commissioned by the Minister, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami.

    The NCC’s ECC project, which makes it possible for people of Kaduna and environs to dial 112 Emergency Number to get help during emergencies from appropriate emergency response agencies, is aimed at supporting the Federal Government agenda of enhancing security of lives and property in the country.

    NCC had built ECC in each of the 36 states of the federation and the FCT. Nineteen of the ECC have been activated while efforts are ongoing to extend it to other states.

    The Minister also commissioned the Tertiary Institution Knowledge Centre (TIKC) in Enugu State Polytechnic, Iwollo executed by the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) of NCC. Three other projects by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), IT Community Centre in Katsina and IT Hub each in Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria Main Campus, Kaduna and University of Lagos, were also commissioned.

    The sixth project commissioned was the opening of Nigeria Communication Satellite (NIGCOMSAT)’s Northwest Regional Office in Kaduna.

    Speaking during the virtual commissioning of the projects, which took place at the NCC’s Communications and Digital Economy Complex, Mbora District, Abuja on Thursday, July 23, 2020 and attended by all heads of agencies under the ministry, Pantami said the projects were all connected to the country’s digital economy drive, as contained in the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) unveiled by the President in November last year.

    According to him, “these projects are connected to some of the pillars of the NDEPS, especially with respect to developmental regulation, digital literacy and skills, solid infrastructure, among others,” urging Nigerians, who are the ultimate beneficiaries of the projects, to take advantage of the opportunities.

    He added that he would continue to work with other ministries, departments and parastatals of government to ensure teething challenges facing ICT infrastructure deployment in the country are addressed in other to deepen digital economy.

    Governor of Borno State and Chairman of the occasion, Babagana Zulum; as well as Hon. Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Shamsuna and her counterpart in the Ministry of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola who were guests of honour commended the ministry and its agencies for expanding the footprint of digital economy across the country.

    Meanwhile, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, and other heads of agencies under the Ministry, have commended the Minister for promoting synergy among the agencies under his supervision.

    According to Danbatta, “the projects will help in leading the country into a truly- digital economy.”

    He restated the Commission’s commitment to ensure a robust broadband infrastructure in the country, to support government’s initiatives aimed at accelerating the implementation of National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy.

  • NCC chairs ministerial broadband implementation steering committee

    NCC chairs ministerial broadband implementation steering committee

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been saddled with the responsibility of leading the team that will ensure effective monitoring and steering of the overall implementation of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) 2020-2025.

    This followed the designation of NCC’s Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Engr. Ubale Maska, as the Chairman of the newly-inaugurated Broadband Implementation Steering Committee (BISC) by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami.

    While inaugurating the inter-agency and multi-sectoral committee in Abuja on Thursday, the Minister said the central responsibility and mandate of the Committee, which will have its secretariat in NCC, is to ensure “effective monitoring for implementation of the National Broadband Plan (NBP), 2020- 2025.”

    The Minister said the inauguration of the committee was part of the ongoing journey for a Digital Nigeria, which had received a boost since his assumption of office in August, 2019.

    “The journey started with the approval for the transformation of the ministry and its parastatals in October, 2019 from mere ICT institutions to digital economy institutions by the President. This was followed by the unveiling of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) in November, 2019 and the development of a new NBP 2020-2025, which was launched by the President in March 19, 2020,” he said.

    He explained further that all the efforts were meant to put Nigeria on the global digital economy map, supported by robust broadband infrastructure. He noted that under the NDEPS, Solid Infrastructure components which is the 3rd pillar will provide the bedrock for the realization of the country’s digital economy vision.

    “In the new National Broadband Plan, there are many targets. Principal of which are to cover 90 per cent of Nigerian population with broadband access and 70 per cent broadband penetration by 2025. We also plan to achieve a broadband speed of 25 megabits per second (mbps) in urban areas and 10 mbps in rural areas by the end of implementation of the new Broadband plan,” Pantami said.

    While noting that the implementation of the new NBP had started fully and is resulting in the increase in broadband penetration currently at 40.14 percent, up from 35.10 per cent in August, 2019, the Minister said the ICT industry contributed 14.07 per cent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2020. He noted that increased broadband penetration will help Nigeria to achieve increased GDP growth.

    The Minister, however, explained that problems of Right of Way, protection for telecom infrastructure and multiple taxations, which are critical to fast-track broadband infrastructure deployment and penetration are being addressed from all fronts. He added that the efforts are already yielding positive results with the engagement of relevant stakeholders including state government and the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).

    Earlier in his remarks, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta commended the Minister for the inauguration of the committee and promised the support of the Commission towards realisation of the mandate of the Committee.

    The Chairman of the Committee, Engr. Maska, also assured the Minister of the Committee members’ readiness to deliver on the assignment.

    Also present at the inauguration are the Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr. Kashifu Abdullahi; Managing Director, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), Dr. Abimbola Alale and Managing Director, Galaxy Backbone, Prof. Muhammed Abubakar.

    The Committee draws membership from the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and agencies under its supervision, Including the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), World Bank, Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), among others.

  • Nigerians to start enjoying Internet speed of 25 Mbps at N390 per 1GB

    Nigerians to start enjoying Internet speed of 25 Mbps at N390 per 1GB

    The federal government has designed a new broadband plan for Nigerians to start enjoying Internet speed of minimum 25 Mbps in urban areas and 10 Mbps in rural areas, with effective coverage available to at least 90% of the population at a price not more than N390 per 1 GB of data.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports a committee known as the Broadband Implementation Steering Committee to achieve this aim was inaugurated on Thursday by Dr Isa Ali Pantami, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy.

    The Internet speed of 25 Mbps in the country means that Nigerians can have Internet fast enough to stream 4k videos without any buffering, about 15 people could happily watch a different Netflix film, and a company employing 40 people would not complain about the internet speed.

    The Broadband Implementation Steering Committee is expected to monitor the implementation of the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (2020-2025) which was unveiled and launched by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

    According to the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, in order to achieve the target, the broadband plan focused on recommendations in 4 critical pillars: infrastructure, policy/spectrum, demand drivers and funding/incentives.

    “The plan targets the deployment of nationwide fibre coverage to reach all State capitals, and a point of presence in at least 90% of Local Government Headquarters. It also targets tertiary educational institutions, major hospitals in each State and 60% of base stations by 2025 at statutory rates of N145/meter for Right of Way (RoW).

    “Our engagement with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum has inspired several state governments to adopt the N145/meter and a few of these States have even waived the fee altogether. His Excellency, President Buhari, GCFR also directed the security agencies to protect all Critical National Infrastructure,” Pantami stated.

    The Minister highlighted a report by Ericsson titled “How Important Are Mobile Broadband Networks for Global Economic Development”, stressing that 10% increase in mobile broadband penetration results in approximately 0.6% to 2.8% rise in gross domestic product (GDP).

    He stated that broadband supports the development of the digital economy and that a focus on growing the national digital economy will also improve the nation’s traditional economy.

    According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the contribution of ICT to the Gross Domestic Product of Nigeria was 14.07% in the 1st Quarter of 2020; this Pantami said was unprecedented and that it reflects how much of an impact technology, including broadband, can have on the economy, if channelled properly.

    “The growth that results from affordable and reliable broadband will enable us get a slice of the Global Digital Economy, which Oxford Economics values at $11.5 trillion dollars or approximately 16% of the Global Economy. This value is expected to grow significantly over the coming years.

    “The World Economic Forum predicts that over 60% of global GDP will be digitized by 2022 and that over the next decade, digital platforms will be used to create close to 70% of new value. Most nations are prioritizing the need to develop their digital economies because they realize the multiplier effect that this can have on all other sectors of the economy.

    “For instance, according to a 2018 Report by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) on “Defining and Measuring the Digital Economy”, the digital economy in the United States contributed 6.9% to the nation’s GDP in 2017. It also contributed 5.1million jobs in that year. The 2019 Digital Trade and U.S. Trade Policy also noted that almost two-thirds of all the jobs created in the United States since 2010 required medium or advanced levels of digital skills. In Nigeria, we are keen to develop a digital economy that will have a great impact on every sector of Nigeria’s economy.

    “The new broadband plan is designed to deliver data download speeds across Nigeria of a minimum 25Mbps in urban areas, and 10Mbps in rural areas, with effective coverage available to at least 90% of the population by 2025 at a price not more than N390 per 1GB of data (2% of median income or 1% of minimum wage).

    “In order to achieve these ambitious targets, the plan focused on recommendations in 4 critical pillars, namely: Infrastructure, Policy/Spectrum, Demand Drivers, Funding/Incentives,” Pantami stated.

    Stressing further on the benefits of increased broadband penetration to the economy, the Minister said it impacts positively on jobs creation, sustainable economic growth and higher standard of living.

    He explained: “According to the Fibre to the Home Council Europe a 25 million EUR investment in information and communications technology (including smart grid and broadband) would create or retain 700,000 jobs, of which 360,000 would be small business jobs; Socio-economic development, leading to growth in e-health, e-education, e-government, etc;

    “According to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Broadband Series, broadband contributes to economic growth through “(1) more efficiency in business processes, (2) acceleration of innovation by introducing new consumer applications and services (e.g. new forms of commerce and financial intermediation) and (3) more efficient functional deployment of enterprises by maximizing their reach to labour pools, access to raw materials, and consumers (e.g. outsourcing of services, virtual call centres)”.

  • NCC rejigs, redeploys 4 directors in bid for improved performance

    NCC rejigs, redeploys 4 directors in bid for improved performance

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has redeployed four directors, following the unveiling of the Commission’s five-year Strategic Management Plan (SMP) by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Prof. Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC carried out the redeployment in a bid to reposition and energize the NCC to better carry out its regulatory functions.

    Dr. Henry Nkemadu, who was Director in charge of Public Affairs Department, has been redeployed to the Research and Development Department of the commission and replaced with Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, who was Director of Consumer Affairs Bureau.

    Meanwhile, Mr. Ephraim Nwokonneya, who was Director of Research and Development (R and D) Department, is now Director of Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Department, with Mr. Efosa Idehen, who was Director of Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Department, as the new Director of Consumer Affairs Bureau.

    The redeployment is in continuation of the ongoing restructuring at NCC, and the redeployment of the four Directors takes immediate effect, a source in the Commission told TNG.

    Recall that the Minister of Minister of Communications and Digital Economy had charged the NCC to redouble efforts to set new records through the implementation of the 2020-2024 SMP.

    TNG reports the 2020-2024 SMP is the vision document of the NCC for planning, monitoring, analyzing, and assessment of the Commission to meet its goals and set objectives.

    It has five pillars, which include regulatory excellence, universal broadband, promote development of digital economy, market development; and strategic partnering and 25 intended outcomes.

    Five critical success factors identified for the implementation of the strategy include: ownership and commitment, effective communication, human resource capacity, development of and adherence to a strategy development manual; and implementation discipline.

    The face of the new SMP is captured in the acronym: “ASPIRE 2024” (A: Advancement through S: Strategy P: Professionalism I: Innovation and R: Regulatory E: Excellence).