Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Pantami says 4,366 projects have been executed in the last four years under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
Pantami disclosed this on at the virtual and physical commissioning of projects in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
The projects include, Nigerian Communications Commission’s Emergency Communications centres, National Information Technology Development Agency’s ICT centres, Ten operational mailing vehicles for the Nigerian Postal Service and Universal Service Provision projects Nationwide.
Also, launched were the IT Hub Construction and Equipping in Gashua, Yobe State (North-East), Digital Awareness Programme at Cardoso High School, Apapa, Lagos State (South-West), Community IT Training Centre Ogbomoso, Oyo State (South-West), Digital Nigeria Centre at General Hassan Usman Katsina Unity College, Bauchi, Bauchi State (North-East), Mini-ICT Square Project at FUT Minna, Niger State (North-Central), Digital Nigeria Centre at Udi Abia Secondary School, Udi, Enugu State (South-East) and other projects.
The Minister explained that the nation’s digital economy grew significantly in the last four years due to the implementation of policies adding that broadband coverage increased from 23 per cent to 80.86 per cent in the period under review.
He expressed delight that the sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s economy grew from N51.3 million to N408.7 billion in four years.
Prof Pantami revealed that the government has increased National Identity Number enrolment from 39 million to 100 million.
Earlier, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof Umar Danbatta, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr Kashifu Inuwa, the Postmaster General of NIPOST, Sunday Adepoju, Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone, Prof Muhammed Abubakar, the Director General of National Identity Management Commission, Engr Aliyu Aziz, National Commissioner, Nigeria Data Protection Bureau, NDPB, Vincent Olatunji lauded the Minister for pioneering giant strides in the sector.
Prof Danbatta, represented by the Executive Commissioner of Stakeholder Management, Adeleke Adewolu, NCC highlighted several interventions facilitated by the Minister responsible for the growth in the sector.
He noted the implementation of the National Identity Number (NIN) SIM synchronization policy, the exemption of the telecommunications sector from an additional 5 per cent tax and other laudable achievements recorded under the Minister.
For his part, the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa said Pantami’s legacy will not be forgotten in the sector.
Also, the Postmaster General, Adepoju said the Minister had impacted the telecommunications industry significantly.
“There is no doubt that effective and efficient National Mail Routes will help in putting Nigeria on a proper pedestal within the comity of global postal administrations,” he stated.
The NDPB Boss, Vincent Olatunji commended the Minister for ensuring that Nigeria meets the global benchmark for privacy regulations amongst other achievements
The highlights of the ceremony were the ribbon cutting of several projects including the unveiling of a 443 pages compendium of the major achievements, programmes and initiatives in NIPOST, the celebration of over 100m NIN enrollment and others.
PIAK
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