Stakeholders commend FG’s inauguration of NBAN, pledge support 

Wed, Feb 5, 2025
By editor
3 MIN READ

Africa, GENERAL, General News

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s  digital and innovative industry, on Tuesday, commended the Federal Government  for the inauguration of the National Broadband Alliance for Nigeria

Reports that the the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE) had inaugurated NBAN to accelerate the country’s digital transformation and broadband adoption.

Speaking at the ceremony in Lagos,  Dr. Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner, Nigerian Data Protection Commission, commended the Federal Government for its commitment to digital development.

Olatunji said that without broadband penetration  the country would not achieve  anything.

He highlighted the importance of collaboration among stakeholders to achieve sustainable development through digital technologies.

According to him, lack of affordable broadband hinders Nigeria’s progress, particularly in rural communities where over 65 per cent of the population reside.

‘’The digital divide requires collective efforts from government officials, private sector stakeholders, civil society groups, and the media.

‘’So I am excited at this gathering. This is one of the positive things that is coming from this government under the Hope agenda.

‘’ All of us must work together, must collaborate, must cooperate to make it work and we should not forget that whatever we do in the digital sector, the foundation is digital identity.

‘’And also the government has put in place a law, a very robust law on data protection and an independent data protection authority to ensure that this law is effectively implemented,” he said.

Also, the Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone, Prof. Muhammad Abubakar reiterated the oorganisation’s support for NBAN, adding “it is aimed at improving internet penetration in universities across the country.”

Abubakar commended the NBAN initiative, describing it as a laudable project that would contribute significantly to the development of the education sector.

He  emphasised the need for fast and affordable internet access in universities to facilitate research, innovation and learning.

According to him, the current internet subscription in universities was grossly inadequate, citing examples of universities with as low as 150 Mbps and 300 Mbps subscriptions.

Abubakar announced that Galaxy Backbone had conducted a survey of seven pilot universities, including the University of Maiduguri, University of Jos, University of Abuja, University of Benin, Nnamdi Azikiwe University among others.

‘’The survey revealed that the universities had limited internet subscriptions, with the highest being one gigabyte of bandwidth at the University of Jos.

‘The project is aimed to leverage on the National ICT Infrastructure Backbone (NICTE) project, which had laid over 5,000 kilometers of fiber broadband across 28 states.

‘’The project would focus on connecting hostels in the pilot universities to provide students with fast and affordable internet access’’, he said

Abubakar expressed optimism that the project would be completed within three to six months and would have a significant impact on the education sector.

He also announced that Galaxy Backbone would divert excess bandwidth from federal ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to the universities in the evenings, providing students with additional bandwidth at no extra cost.

NAN reports that the National Broadband Alliance is a flagship initiative of the Federal Government’s digital economy strategy, aimed at promoting broadband penetration and digital inclusion across the country. (NAN)

E.A

Feb. 4, 2025

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