Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami has disclosed in Abuja on Monday that the Government plans to slash data cost by half by the year 2025.
Pantami made this disclosure while speaking during a training for journalists in Abuja organised by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
‘‘We are making efforts to cut down the cost of data. Our target is for 180 million Nigerians to have access to broadband by 2025,’’ he stated.
Pantami noted that the plan is to reduce cost of data by more than 50 per cent by 2025. Further, he stated this will be achieved with the broadband penetration drive of the Communications Ministry.
The Minister attributed the high cost of data to vandalism of ICT infrastructure as well as the issues with Right-of-Way.
Equally important, the Minister revealed that the mission was to ensure broadband access for 180 million Nigerians by 2025.
In addition, he disclosed plans by the Federal Government to equip farmers with digital skills. Also, he noted that residents of rural areas and other beneficiaries would be accommodated in the proposed trainings.
The Minister insisted that this was one of the strategies to digitize the Nigerian economy.
In addition, he stated that the government is exploring a policy to aid people who have skills in the ICT sector. This is to enable them compete better than those who can only boasts of certificates but have no skills.
“In our drive to make Nigeria a digital economy, we will organise digital skills training for farmers. Also, for people living in rural areas who can read and write as well as others,” Pantami disclosed.
Meanwhile, Pantami disclosed that the Ministry was engaging state governors on the cost and other concerns associated with Right-of-Way for ICT infrastructure. He attributed the recent reduction in cost to these engagements.
