The Nigerian Government says the deployment of fiber optics backbone across the country has reached 98% completion .
The Managing Director Galaxy Backbone, GBB, Professor Muhammad Abubakar disclosed this during the 10th General Meeting of the National Council on Communications and Digital Economy in Ibadan, Oyo State, South-West Nigeria.
He reassured that the country’s fiber optic coverage would circulate across every local government of the 36 states of the Federation, for optimal Information Communications Technology, ICT, Services.
“In terms of providing the fiber optic backbone for every body.The NIBTIC 2 project has started we are presently at 98% completion .By time we finish laying, the fiber optic cable will reach the door steps of the all local governments as well as the state governments of the federation,” he said.
According to Professor Abubakar “At the completion of the project, it will deepen the broadband penetration in Nigeria, which is targeted to reach 70 per cent by 2025, up from its current 44.5%.
“It will also improve the internet and network communications experience of not just agencies of government, but of the entire nation,” he gave the assurance.
The Galaxy Backbone Boss noted that as the Nation’s ICT agency GBB is working assiduously towards a standard Infrastructural development as sited in the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) 2020 – 2030.
“As you also know the third pillar of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy is infrastructural development which the galaxy backbone is providing”
He said its services had been expanded and commercialized to cover the six geopolitical zones of the country, so as to generate more revenue for the government.
While listing the benefits of the technology project to the Nigerian economy, he affirmed that Galaxy Backbone, which is the technology implementing agency of the National Information and Communications Technology Infrastructure Backbone, NICTIB Phase 2 project and Nigeria ICT Broadband facilitator for national development, is committed to the full implementation of the project
“We have NIBTIC 2 which is being executed the Northern part of the country while NICTIB 1 is being executed in the southern part of the country. NICTIB 2 which will come from Abuja up to Borno State” the GBB Boss explained .
He attributed the growth in the sector to Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Pantami for providing leadership and guidance in driving Nigeria’s digital economy sector.
“I want to commend our digital Minister our leader who has be championing the journey of digital economy family which has been a wonder one .The digital economy sector is the fastest growing sector in the Nigeria’s economy and the highest contributor to the country’s GDP where we recorded 18.44 % as it it presently and is till counting” he reiterated
Professor Abubakar maintained that the Galaxy backbone would ensure an unterrupted service delivery to public and private organisations through rendered services with supporting collocation, hosting and disaster recovery for organisations.
He added that Galaxy Backbone has an uptime Certified Tier III and Tier IV Datacentres that are available and accessible for use by both the government and private sector organisations to strengthen its asset base and guarantee information storage capacity.
The 2022 National Council and Communication programme was attended by heads of various parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Commissioners of Science and Technology and heads of ICT agencies from the 36 states of Nigeria among others.
The GBB used the event to exhibit and showcase its innovative services and partnerships to drive the Nation’s Digital transformation agenda and the realisation of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) 2020-2030.
Confidence Okwuchi
