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| NCC Executive Vice Chairman Dr. Aminu Maida |
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is doubling down on partnerships and skilled talent to supercharge broadband expansion and digital transformation across Nigeria.
NCC Executive Vice Chairman Dr. Aminu Maida emphasized this during a Strategic Fibre Optics Training Workshop in Abuja, represented by Abraham Oshadami. He called robust, regulated fibre infrastructure the foundation of true digital progress, especially now, as Nigeria ramps up to close the digital divide.
“Strategic fibre deployment fuels economic growth, financial inclusion, education, healthcare, agriculture, and smarter public services,” Maida declared.
Big news: The Federal Government’s Project BRIDGE (Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth), under the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, aims to roll out 90,000 kilometers of fibre optic cable, reaching all 774 local government areas for deeper digital access.
Challenges persist, like steep Right of Way (RoW) fees, red tape from states, and vandalism. But NCC is tackling them head-on through teamwork with regulators, governments, and security forces. Already, 13 states have scrapped RoW charges after NCC advocacy, drawing fresh telecom investments.
Maida also spotlighted a 2024 presidential order, backed by the National Security Adviser’s office, labeling telecom assets as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNI) for better safeguards.
Collaboration and talent-building are NCC’s core strategy. Maida hailed the five-day workshop, run by the International Telecommunication Union with Digital Bridge Institute and EU support, as a game-changer for regulatory smarts and faster nationwide fibre rollout.
EU Delegation’s Inga Stefanowicz spotlighted the EU’s global push for Africa, channeling investments into digital infrastructure, energy, transport, healthcare, and education.
She highlighted the 2022 Digital Economy Package for Nigeria - a whopping €820 million commitment, including €160 million in grants, for digital skills, innovation hubs, and public fibre rollout.
The package smartly pulls in private sector muscle to fill funding voids, as public cash alone can’t tackle Africa’s massive infrastructure demands.
Stefanowicz fired up workshop attendees: “Seize this training, forge partnerships, maintaining that strong digital backbone is Nigeria’s ticket to transformation!”
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