Broadband remains the most critical National infrastructure to wither the storm of the pandemic – NITDA Boss

The Director General of NITDA, Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi has stated that broadband infrastructure remains the most critical infrastructure the nation needs to wither the storm of the pandemic.

The NITDA Boss disclosed this in a keynote remark during a virtual forum recently organised by the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria, (ATCON). The event theme: “Meeting the Interests of the Government, Consumers and Telecom and ICT Companies in the Era of COVID-19 and Post COVID -19 Pandemic for Digital Economy Development”, was organised with the objective of identifying various challenges the industry stakeholders are facing with the view of providing solutions to them.

He maintained that ICT would play a major role in the global effort at returning to the new normal, adding that COVID-19 has triggered an unprecedented paradigm shift in the way of life and only ICT sector can accelerate the development of Digital Economy. “The new trend has stimulated a surge in demand for digital services and is putting tremendous pressure on the existing ICT and Telco infrastructure. “There is a need for government’s intervention and regulatory instruments to help you – the sector players come out from this pandemic stronger than when you entered.” The NITDA boss noted that broadband infrastructure remains the most critical infrastructure the nation needs to wither the storm of the pandemic, adding that the connectivity drive of the government has made Nigeria a mobile-first market, with almost three-quarters of about 100m internet users consuming digital services using smartphones. While assessing the impact of the broadband penetration, Mallam Abdullahi observed that various government’s efforts like reassigning of the ministry’s mandates to accommodate the digital economy plan, National broadband policy and Nigerian Digital Economy Strategic Plans had within eight months increased the broadband penetration from 32 percent to almost 42 per cent.

The DG explained that NITDA under his leadership is focusing on other initiatives that provide the skeleton and flesh of the digital economy, while broadband provides the backbone infrastructure for the digital economy to thrive. Mallam Abdullahi listed what NITDA is doing to complement the broadband penetration’s efforts of the government to include: Developmental Regulations; Digital Literacy and Skills; Solid Infrastructure; Service Infrastructure; Digital Service Development and Promotion; Indigenous Content Development and Promotion among others.

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