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By Williams Ago
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says it is targeting the provision of coverage of at least 80 per cent of the country’s population, especially the underserved and unserved by the end of 2027 with broadband penetration.
Executive Vice-Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, gave the indication over the weekend in a keynote address at the 13th annual Nigeria ICT Impact CEO Forum/Africa Digital Award ceremony at Orient Hotel, Lagos.
Represented by the Director, Public Affairs of NCC, Mr. Reuben Muoka, the NCC boss said that the strategic plan is designed to drive a major part of the overall implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He said, the NCC, under his leadership, will support the target of the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to boost Nigeria’s broadband penetration rate to 70 per cent by the end of year 2025 in line with the NNBP 2020-2025.
According to him, that will be done through the laying of 95,000 kilometres of fibre optic cables across the country.
He added that, in line with the vision of the ministry, "we are targeting the provision of coverage of at least, 80 per cent of the country’s population, especially the underserved and unserved populations by the end of 2027.
"We also intend to secure between 300-500 per cent increase in broadband investment by the end of 2027; while we work to reduce the gap of unconnected Nigerians in rural areas from 61 per cent to less than 20 per cent by 2027,” he assured.
The NCC EVC/CEO also gave other key targets in the strategic plan of the ministry.
He said NCC has adopted a clear-cut strategy to transform Nigeria’s digital economy sector and which the commission is committed to.
These 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 per cent improvement in quality of service (QoS) by 2024; 22 per cent increase in net GDP contribution by digital economy by 2027 as well as increase in investment into Nigeria’s telecommunications sector by 15 per cent year-on-year.
According to him, the ministerial blueprint also targets 70 per cent digital literacy by 2027; a capital increase raised by Nigerian tech startups by 50 per cent year-on-year from $1 billion/year in 2022 to $5 billion/year in 2027; and achieving 25 per cent domiciliation of local technology startups by 2027.
Other expectations are to accomplish for Nigeria, 60 per cent 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 per cent net GDP contribution by 2027, among others.
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