Technology (ICT) and Cybercrime.
The
committee expressed this feeling when they made a tour of MainOne’s Data
Centre, MDXi in Lagos, at the weekend.
Currently,
Nigeria’s broadband penetration wobbles at 21 per cent, despite having
bandwidth in excess of 10 Terabyte capacity lying fallow at sea shores in the
country. The operators have been hindered by lack of last mile infrastructure
and the tough business climate in the country.
Notwithstanding
this, the Federal Government is hopeful of increasing broadband penetration to
30 per cent by 2018, with modalities streamlined in the National Broadband Plan
(NBP), stakeholders are however, skeptical about the plan, which plans have
largely not been achieved. The NBP is a five year plan from 2013 to 2018.
The
embattled Committee has been told to match policies with actions, by ensuring
that they enacted the right policies and followed them through to
implementation for the benefit of Nigeria’s technology ecosystem.
Speaking,
the team leader and Committee Chairman, Senator Buhari Abdulfatai, pledged
their readiness to work with relevant agencies to ensure that Nigeria meets its
ICT objectives considering the incredible capacity already available in
country.
Commenting
on the MainOne submarine cable system and data centre, he said: “with this
capacity already available in country, there is no reason for the country’s
broadband penetration rate to remain at the 21 per cent as reported by the
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), given the booming demand for data and
connectivity services in the country.”
Abdulfatai
stated that the delay in licensing Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos) and
deploying network infrastructure after licensing posed a major threat to the
achievement of the nations’ technology goals, which largely depends on
broadband infrastructure to be provided by InfraCos.
He assured
that the Senate will do all it can within its powers to facilitate
ICT/broadband development and give legal substance to ICT policies including
the NBP and the Cybercrime Act.
During the
facility tour, Abdulfatai described MainOne’s data centre as a world-class
facility, and reiterated the importance of having Nigerian institutions host
data locally, to ensure national security, drive job growth, improve the
quality of online services, and guarantee Nigeria’s participation in the
emerging global digital transformation.
In her
remarks, MainOne’s Chief Executive Officer, Funke Opeke, lauded the Senate
Committee’s efforts in ensuring the development of ICT across Nigeria via its
support of home-grown enterprises.
She called
for legislation especially in the areas that will positively impact on
infrastructure development, including possible interventions to address the
high cost of capital crippling telecoms companies, which has significantly
slowed down new infrastructure projects in Nigeria, and critically needed in
bridging the gnawing gaps in the ICT industry.
“Nigerian
Content is arguably the most globally recognised African content today, but
South Africa and Kenya are perceived as digital leaders in Africa because of
the infrastructural gaps in the country. MainOne has made significant
investments in ICT infrastructural development in Nigeria, and West Africa, and
will continue to do so, but we require full government support to enable the
ICT industry in Nigeria surpass other countries,” she added.
According to Guardian, Earlier, the
Chairman of MainOne Cables, Fola Adeola, urged the government to encourage the
private sector by all means, saying: “what is being done at MainOne was what
government used to do with lots of difficulties. But here, we do it with ease.”
Adeola
argued that the ICT sector is in dire need of significant support of government
policies to be able to retain investments and attract fresh ones.
“Our
position today and the future will be on the quality of laws passed by the
lawmakers, and this will go a long way to create jobs. Broadband should be
available and affordable. Nigerian, universities should run on broadband by
now.
‘It is the
ICT sector that will make us competitive. We are yet to scratch the surface of
the potential the sector holds; the reason we are clamouring for increased
government support,” Adeola said.
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