Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said that the appreciable level of compliance by the State Governments with directive on Right of Way (RoW) policy pegged at N140 per metre is boosting the digital economy and aiding effective telecoms services in the country.
Osinbajo while explaining that the digital technology is the future of all aspects of human existence – business, education, healthcare, governance, security, and the practice of every profession, said President Muhammadu Buhari-led Government is working towards making a broadband connectivity for all by the year 2023.
Speaking virtually on the inauguration of Ogun Digital Economy Infrastructure Project held in Abeokuta on Thursday, the Vice President noted that the Ogun State’s effort in establishing the Digital Economy Infrastructure Project stands a critical component of Mr. President’s objective of broadband connectivity for all by 2023 as such an ambition is enshrined in the Federal Government Economic Sustainability Plan.
“As part of the national commitment to make broadband connectivity available to all, you would recall that in 2017, the State Governors under the auspices of the National Economic Council (NEC), agreed to harmonize right of way charges payable by telecommunications companies and related public utility infrastructure on Local Governments, States and Federal Highways, to encourage co-location of the companies’ fiber optic cables.
“In another demonstration of Government’s commitment in this regard, the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy launched the National Broadband Plan which is designed to deliver data download speeds across Nigeria of a minimum 25Mbps in urban areas and 10Mbps in rural areas, with effective coverage available to at least 90% of the population by 2025 at affordable prices.
“The plan gives special attention to unserved and underserved areas in the distribution of telecom services. Many States have already complied with the right of way policy and have reduced the rates to as low as N140 per meter, while some States have completely removed the charges.
“We must press on in our quest to democratize access to the internet. We are pursuing this cause because we recognize that internet access and broadband penetration will become existential in a few short years and will determine our competitiveness in the global economy”, he said.
Earlier, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State said that the inauguration of Ogun Digital Economy Infrastructure Project was launched to formally deepen the various advantages of information technology advancements into all sectors and making ICT one indispensable point of the State’s economy.
He said, “And, as we are putting efforts towards improving on our status as the Industrial Hub of the nation and the investors’ destination of choice, as well as the education capital of the country, by providing an enduring legacy in digital economy at a full capacity at this time is very apposite.
7.But, we are also not unaware of the need to improve accessibility. Therefore, the strategy of the Ogun State Digital Economy Infrastructure Project (OGDEIP) is to provide broadband connectivity to every corner of our dear State.
“This is a Joint Project, it is a joint effort between our Administration and our partner, 21st Century Technologies Limited (21CTL), to deliver fibre-optic cables and mechanics across all our 20 Local Government Areas within the next two years.
“This will include laying the foundation for increased broadband connectivity and the attendant opportunities the new technology will bring to all the people and our dear State’s economy, in general. As a matter of fact, the first phase of OGDEIP will establish a fibre optic network ring around the entire State that will ensure connectivity particularly for key educational institutions, Government agencies, and residents in unconnected and under-connected areas.
The ring design will ensure minimal downtime due to the manner in which the network can be automatically re-routed where there is a break in connection.
“The second phase of the Project is the establishment of a world class data center along our own Silicon Alley in Abeokuta that will host a variety of ICT services both for the public and private sectors, and Cyber Security scrubbing centers.
“This stage will complement the third phase of the Project. This phase will feature the completion of an ICT Park donated by Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) along the same route which will house world class technology centers for cutting edge technology research and development.
“At this point, let me note that OGDEIP is also a culmination of a significant groundwork already undertaken by our Administration towards creating an enduring and sustainable digital economy in Ogun State. Part of this groundwork has involved the development of Bills and passage of laws to entrench the use of IT in governance processes and practices in the State.”
