Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reiterated its full involvement in President Bola Tinubu’s Renewable Hope Agenda, leveraging technology to revive the nation’s economy.
In a statement on Thursday, Reuben Muoka, director of Public Affairs, NCC, said the Agency would work with Dr. Bosun Tijani, minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, to achieve his Strategic Agenda 2023 — 2027 set targets to achieve a 50 per cent improvement in Quality of Service (QoS)
By the end of 2024; to boost Nigeria’s broadband penetration rate to 70 per cent by the end of 2025; to deliver data download speed of 25Mbps in urban areas and 10Mbps in rural areas by the end of 2025; to provide coverage for, at least, 80 percent of the country’s population, especially the underserved and unserved populations by the end of 2026; to reduce the gap of unconnected Nigerians in rural areas from 61 per cent to less than 20 per cent by 2027; and to secure between 300 per cent to 500 per cent increase in broadband investment by the end of 2027.
Drawing from the Strategic Agenda of the Ministry, Muoka said Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission, (NCC) had emplaced three Strategic Focus Areas for the Commission: The Consumers, the Industry and Licensees; and the Government.
He said: “For President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Renewed Hope Agenda draws us all to a more promising outlook. Inherent in his agenda is the pledge to embolden and support the youth and women by harnessing emerging sectors such as the digital economy.
“In delivering this vision, the Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani unveiled a blueprint appropriately titled – “Accelerating our Collective Prosperity through Technical Efficiency” with the goal of supporting Nigeria’s economic growth by enhancing productivity, facilitated by digital innovation.” The NCC’s spokesperson maintained that digital transformation is happening globally as propelled by COVID-19, saying Nigeria is not lagging.
“In Nigeria, a young tech-savvy and upwardly mobile population is teeming, and exploring derivable benefits of digital technologies. They are propelled by rapidly expanding internet access and steady broadband penetration, currently about 43 per cent. Our digital economy is poised for significant growth, positively impacting various sectors and benefiting the nation through enhanced connectivity and digital skills.