The current administration expects that with improved access to quality and affordable broadband, and upgraded critical services, the country will be able to work collaboratively to catalyze a digital transformation that impacts our entire population. However, this can be achieved with the implementation of appropriate policies and set targets already stipulated by the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.
Speaking at the 13th Annual Nigeria ICT Impact CEO Forum/Africa Digital Award held last weekend in Lagos, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, reiterated this, soliciting for stakeholders’ collaborative input in achieving set goals.
Maida acknowledged the relevance of the forum as it affects the regulator: “The theme of this year’s edition presents yet another opportunity for us, as the regulator of the nation’s telecommunication sector, to share thoughts and ideas with industry stakeholders concerning the prospects and challenges confronting our march to achieving ubiquitous broadband connectivity across the nooks and crannies of Nigeria.”
While acknowledging the various challenges standing against fast-paced broadband deployment, the EVC pointed out that there are still adequate opportunities for Nigeria to achieve its set goals.
“Although limited access to high-speed service, lack of advanced IT skills, funding, inadequate infrastructure among several other factors have been identified as the major constraints slowing Nigeria’s internet economy, Nigeria has demonstrated commitment and passion, through various policy and regulatory frameworks, to ensure wider broadband coverage for the country. This is because the data revolution presents great potential and opportunity for the socio-economic development of Nigeria.”
Laying out the targets of the Commission, the EVC said: “The NCC, under my leadership will support the target of the Ministry to boost Nigeria’s broadband penetration rate to 70% 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% of the country’s population, especially the underserved and unserved populations by the end of 2027; we also intend to secure between 300-500% increase in broadband investment by the end of 2027; while we work to reduce the gap of unconnected Nigerians in rural areas from 61% to less than 20% by 2027.”
He further explained that 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% improvement in quality of service (QoS) by 2024; 22% increase in net GDP contribution by digital economy by 2027 as well as increase in investment into Nigeria’s telecommunications sector by 15% year-on-year.”
The Ministerial blueprint also targets 70% digital literacy by 2027; a capital increase raised by Nigerian tech startups by 50% year-on-year from $1 billion/year in 2022 to $5 billion/year in 2027; and achieving 25% domiciliation of local technology startups by 2027. Other expectations are to accomplish for Nigeria, 60% 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% net GDP contribution by 2027, among others.
While calling on all stakeholders to collaborate with the Commission as it discharges its regulatory mandate, the EVC noted that to achieve its potential, the NCC will continue to ensure diligent implementation of the broadband strategy to ensure that everybody is carried along. “As a Commission, we will also ensure effective management of our spectrum resources as pathways for the growth of new and emerging technologies, improvement of businesses and seamless access to government services,” he concluded.
