Lagos, Nov. 21, 2023 – The National Communication Commission (NCC) is committed to effective management of Nigeria’s spectrum resources to provide improved access to quality and affordable broadband and upgraded critical services in the country.
Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of NCC, made the pledge in his keynote address at the 13th Annual Nigeria ICT Impact CEO Forum/Africa Digital Award in Lagos on Saturday.
Maida, who spoke on “Broadband Availability and Potentials of Data Revolution”, said to achieve this, the NCC would continue to ensure diligent implementation of Nigeria National Broadband Plan (NNBP).
Maida said the Commission’s focus, in the next four years and beyond under the current administration, would align strictly with the vision for the digital economy as envisioned in the strategic plan of the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani.
He said the strategic blueprint, unveiled in October 2023, had five pillars and prioritised the deployment of broadband infrastructure and digital empowerment of three million Nigerian youths, among others.
“The NCC, under my leadership will support the target of the Ministry to boost Nigeria’s broadband penetration rate to 70 per cent by the end of 2025 in line with the NNBP 2020-2025, through the laying of 95,000 kilometres of fibre optic cables across the country.
“In the same vein, and in line with the vision of the Ministry, we are targeting the provision of coverage of at least 80 per cent of the country’s population, especially the underserved and unserved populations by the end of 2027.
“We also intend to secure between 300-500 per cent increase in broadband investment by the end of 2027, while we work to reduce the gap of unconnected Nigerians in rural areas from 61 per cent to less than 20 per cent by 2027.
“Other key targets in the strategic plan of the Ministry, which has adopted a clear-cut strategy to transform Nigeria’s digital economy sector and which the NCC is committed to include the plan to deliver data download speed of 25Mbps in urban areas and 10Mbps in rural areas by the end of 2025, achieve a 50 per cent improvement in quality of service (QoS) by 2024, 22 per cent increase in net GDP contribution by digital economy by 2027 as well as increase in investment into Nigeria’s telecommunications sector by 15 per cent year-on-year.
“The ministerial blueprint also targets 70 per cent digital literacy by 2027; a capital increase raised by Nigerian tech startups by 50 per cent year-on-year from $1 billion/year in 2022 to $5 billion/year in 2027; and achieving 25 per cent domiciliation of local technology startups by 2027.
“Other expectations are to accomplish for Nigeria, 60 per cent government data digitization by the end of 2026; the creation of 50,000 Artificial Intelligence (AI) industry jobs by 2026, while also ensuring the accomplishment of 22 per cent net GDP contribution by 2027, among others.”
Maida promised that the NCC would continue to ensure diligent implementation of our broadband strategy to ensure that everybody is carried along.
He called on all stakeholders to join hands with the Commission in the discharges its regulatory mandate towards building robust and resilient broadband infrastructure that would support the potential of the growing data revolution to drive our collective prosperity in Nigeria. (GBN)
