The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, delivered a keynote address at the 13th Annual Nigeria ICT Impact CEO Forum/Africa Digital Award held at Oriental Hotel, Lagos. The event, which took place on Saturday, November 18, 2023, focused on the theme, “Broadband Availability and Potentials of Data Revolution.”
Dr. Maida emphasized the correlation between broadband accessibility and a country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). He highlighted studies by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), indicating that countries with a high density of broadband networks experience higher GDP per capita, showcasing the economic significance of widespread broadband availability.
The ITU’s Global Connectivity Report 2022, cited by Dr. Maida, noted that while the number of Internet users globally has surged, one-third of humanity remains offline, and universal connectivity remains a distant prospect. In Nigeria and other African countries, 4G coverage in urban areas surpasses that in rural areas, posing challenges related to deployment costs and user demand.
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the uptake of broadband and digital services globally, creating a surge in data consumption. Dr. Maida highlighted the shift to online activities, digitalization of governmental services, and the increased demand for digital literacy.
As the regulator of Nigeria’s dynamic telecommunications industry, the NCC, under Dr. Maida’s leadership, has implemented regulatory frameworks to ensure incremental broadband deployment. The Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025 sets ambitious targets for broadband penetration, aligning with the government’s vision for the digital economy.
Dr. Maida unveiled the Ministerial Strategic Plan, focusing on five pillars: Infrastructure, Knowledge, Policy, Innovation/Entrepreneurship and Capital, and Trade. The NCC aims to lay 95,000 kilometers of fiber optic cables, provide coverage to 80% of the population, achieve a 300-500% increase in broadband investment, and reduce the gap of unconnected Nigerians in rural areas.
Dr. Maida emphasized the NCC’s commitment to supporting the strategic blueprint of the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy. He outlined targets for improved data download speed, quality of service, digital literacy, capital increase for tech startups, government data digitization, job creation, and GDP contribution.
In conclusion, Dr. Maida called for collaboration among stakeholders to support the NCC in building robust and resilient broadband infrastructure. He stressed the importance of leveraging the growing data revolution to drive collective prosperity in Nigeria.
