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Tag: Bosun Tijani

  • A minister’s fixation with artificial intelligence

    A minister’s fixation with artificial intelligence

    By Michael Oyewole

    In the last 17 months, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has shown a keen interest in propelling the nation into the age of artificial intelligence (AI). However, this ambition seems at odds with the stark reality of the country’s internet infrastructure, which remains woefully inadequate for such technological leaps.

    No doubt, Bosun Tijani’s fervour for Artificial Intelligence, AI, represents a forward-looking vision for our digital future. Nevertheless, a myopic focus on AI, devoid of addressing the fundamental challenges of internet connectivity risks rendering this vision illusory. For the country to truly capitalize on AI’s transformative power, rigorous efforts must be equally directed towards developing robust infrastructural frameworks alongside advanced AI strategies. Through this dual focus, the country can realistically transition from mere aspiration to tangible realization in the digital landscape.

    While one acknowledges the transformative potential of AI for our economy, in education, healthcare, and security, and reckon with strategies that include fostering an ecosystem where AI can thrive thereby positioning Nigeria not just as a consumer but as a contributor to global AI innovations, initiatives like the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy are a testament to this commitment, aiming to cultivate skills, encourage research, and attract investment in this critical sector. However, the harsh reality of poor internet connectivity stares us all in the face.

    Sadly, all of Minister Bosun’s big talk game regarding AI runs into a significant barrier in poor internet connectivity. At present, the country’s internet infrastructure is characterized by multifaceted challenges, which have been left largely unaddressed with no actionable solution to tackle these hindrances.

    Despite being the most populous nation in Africa, Nigeria faces significant challenges in broadband accessibility, with penetration rates remaining below 50%. This issue is particularly acute in rural regions, where connectivity is severely limited. A large chunk of telecommunications consumers frequently experience unreliable internet service, marked by frequent outages, slow data transfer rates, and exorbitant costs. All of these factors will most likely impair the effectiveness of data-intensive artificial intelligence applications. More so, there is a notable digital divide between urban and rural regions, leaving a substantial portion of the population disconnected from digital resources. This disparity not only obstructs the broader adoption of AI technologies but also exacerbates existing educational and economic inequities across the country.

    Read Also: Nigeria, China sign 7.6b Euros clean energy deal

    Ordinarily, one would expect the minister to, as a matter of utmost importance, deal with poor internet connection while massively on-boarding the substantial part of the population who are disconnected from digital resources. For the record, I greatly admire the minister’s policy suggestions regarding AI and his noble efforts. His well-intentioned enthusiasm for AI is commendable and forward-thinking. My reservation on this matter is fuelled by him not seemingly putting the right foot forward. The bitter truth is that he cannot incorporate AI adoption on a larger scale across the country without decisively prioritizing good internet connection and seamless access to digital tools. 

    Adding to this mix is the cost of access to internet connectivity – data. A few days ago, the telecommunication companies in Nigeria implemented an upward review of internet cost, an increment sanctioned by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), an agency under the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy. This increase is coming at a time when most Nigerians are grappling with one form of economic hardship or the other. Realistically, the cost of internet connectivity is crucial for fostering an environment where AI can be effectively adopted, utilized, and further developed in third-world countries. How can anyone miss these critical details? You cannot successfully implement AI adoption when a larger chunk of your population cannot afford an internet subscription.

    The cost of internet access can also affect education and public awareness about Artificial Intelligence and its intended adoption campaign. For instance, without affordable internet subscriptions, schools and educational institutions might not be able to integrate AI into their curricula, leading to a gap in knowledge and skills necessary for AI development, application and adoption. Also, the cost of internet connection subscription may negatively impact local innovations since start-ups and small businesses might not afford the necessary infrastructure, like high speed internet and cost, to experiment with or develop AI solutions. Inherently, this could slow down or hinder the growth of a local AI ecosystem, leading to reliance on foreign AI technologies which might not be tailored to local needs or contexts.

    For me, however, I think Minister Bosun’s fixation on AI seems somewhat premature when foundational issues like internet connectivity and the expensive cost of data arising from the poor purchasing power of citizens are not adequately addressed. The irony is palpable; you cannot effectively implement Artificial Intelligence technologies without a robust, relatively affordable, reliable internet backbone. Not possible.

    •Oyewole writes from Ilogbo-Ekiti and can be reached via Oyewolemichael9@gmail.com

  • Fed Govt leveraging NIPOST’s infrastructure for e-commerce

    Fed Govt leveraging NIPOST’s infrastructure for e-commerce

    The Federal Government is leveraging the wide reach of NIPOST’s infrastructure across the country to boost e-commerce and achieve inclusivity, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, said yesterday.

    In his welcome address at a forum organized by NIPOST and Glovo with Accelerating E-commerce through Digital and Physical Infrastructure Integration Bridging the Gap: Digital Innovation Meets Logistics, the minister said e-commerce holds a central place in the global economy, and Nigeria, with its dynamic entrepreneurial spirit, has the potential to lead in this space.

    “However, realizing this potential requires a comprehensive approach to addressing the logistical and infrastructural challenges that hinder the seamless movement of goods and services, particularly in underserved and rural areas.”

    “Through the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, NIPOST has an unparalleled physical presence across Nigeria, with over 1,000 post offices numerous distribution centers, many of which are currently underutilized. Leveraging these assets to support logistics and delivery-while integrating them with digital platforms-offers a transformative opportunity to create a nationwide logistics network. This network will make e-commerce accessible across Nigeria’s 36 states, significantly boosting inlclusion and accessibility in underserved regions.

    Read Also: Lagos Governor challenges NIPOST on innovation

    “This integration will provide a critical boost to the e-commerce ecosystem, lowering barriers to entry, enhancing logistics capabilities, and expanding market access for business, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs). By strengthening, this foundation, we ensure that Nigeria’s digital economy thrives not just locally, but also contributes to advancing intra-African trade under AfCFTA’s digital Trade Protocols,” he said.

    Represented on the occasion by Postmaster General, NIPOST, Tola Odeyemi, the minister  said  the forum is a statement to the power of collaboration, adding that by bringing together policymakers, private sector leaders, technology innovators, and logistics providers, “we aim to forge a framework that positions Nigeria as a leading hub for e-commerce in Africa. I would also like to commend our partners, particularly, Glovo, for their dedication to advancing e-commerce and for the launch of the Yellow Effect Report, which provides valuable insights to guide our share efforts”.

    “As we engage in meaningful dialogue and collaboration, I encourage all participants to reflect on the transformative role of logistics and digital infrastructure integration in shaping Nigeria’s e-commerce future. Together, we can create a thriving digital economy that empowers businesses, supports communities, and positions Nigeria as a leader in the regional and global digital marketplace,” he said.

    Speaking on the sideline of the programme, Odeyemi, said surmounting the problems facing the industry is one of the major reasons the forum was organized.

    She said: “So in terms of the challenges being faced by industry players, particularly infrastructure, I think that’s one of the reasons why we’re here. We know that NIPOST has a lot of the infrastructure that the industry needs, and we’re willing to partner with them to share infrastructure to grow the ecosystem.

    “On  regulatory issues, harassment and licensing, we are migrating from an analog to a digital licensing process. That should be ready second quarter of this year, so that way people are able to track and know the status of their licenses, as well as get digital certificates as their license, and for the people who want the physical ones, we’ll provide those ones.

    “Secondly, in terms of issues that they face in state and local governments, it’s one of the key things that the Courier Logistics Regulatory Department is working with them in having these sessions, stakeholder sessions, with Ministry of Transport, local government, authorities, in terms of ease of movement for all courier riders across the country. Okay, bringing NIPOST into the 21st or the 22nd century.

    “I mean, so moving into the 21st century is just basically about one thing-technology; rebuilding our digital core, which is what we’re doing right now across all our services and products.”

    According to the Postmaster-General, in terms of post-coding and addressing, “we’re moving from an analog to digital postcode. We’ve done our aerial mapping, we’ve done our piloting of the digital postcode, which is now a more intuitive postcode, and that should be launched by second quarter of this year.

    “And national addressing systems, which we’re working on, which is an exchange system for all addresses, all verified addresses across the nation, which makes location. So that in conjunction with the postcode makes particularly locating addresses a breeze for not just for courier logistics, but I think across anybody who has to interface with addressing in Nigeria”.

    She said, Nigeria is young in the e-commerce space. “So we consume a lot of e-commerce coming into the country. So I think at the Universal Postal Union level, which is the association for all postal services, there’s a project called the Postal Prosperity Zone, which is an aggregation of e-commerce partners.

    “So what we’re doing in Nigeria is that we’re signing up onto that PPZ, what it allows is an aggregation of e-commerce by NIPOST. And then what that does for the industry is once it comes in through NIPOST, everybody who is in the logistics and courier business in Nigeria can offtake and is now a partner to all e-commerce. So the postal service is the aggregator, but in terms of delivery and logistics, all players have the opportunity to partake in e-commerce. That’s what we’re working on right now.”

  • Minister blames regulatory processes, others for broadband woes

    Minister blames regulatory processes, others for broadband woes

    • NCC promises platform to empower Nigerians

    Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has blamed cumbersome regulatory processes, limited access to devices, lack of awareness, inadequate digital literacy, and erratic power supply for the challenges the country faced in the area of affordable broadband penetration.

    The Minister, in his keynote entitled:  The Broadband Alliance: Accelerating Our Collective Prosperity Through Connectivity, delivered during the launch of National Broadband Alliance for Nigeria (NBAN) at Radisson Blue Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, described the development as paradox of utilization.

    Also, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) promised to build an ecosystem that not only strengthens the nation’s digital infrastructure, but also empowers the people to unlock their full potential.

    Represented on the occasion by the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, the minister said fibre networks continue to grow but are faced with the challenge of underutilization.

    Tijani said: “Despite the growing availability of fibre networks, we face an unfortunate paradox: many of these networks remain underutilized. In numerous parts of the country, the capacity of existing fibre infrastructure far exceeds the demand. This is primarily due to a lack of access to necessary infrastructure in unserved and underserved areas, compounded by significant barriers to broadband adoption.

    “These barriers include limited access to devices, lack of awareness, inadequate digital literacy, cumbersome regulatory processes, and power supply challenges.

    “This underutilization of existing infrastructure hinders our digital transformation and also negatively impacts the return on investment. This creates a vicious cycle—one that we must break in order to realize the full potential of broadband and its contribution to our digital economy.

    Read Also: Airtel Nigeria unveils Tv campaign for home broadband

    “These barriers include limited access to devices, lack of awareness, inadequate digital literacy, cumbersome regulatory processes, and power supply challenges,” he said.

    He said NBAN is not just an initiative; it is a transformative journey that will pave the way for a digitally connected Nigeria. This journey, he said aligned seamlessly with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu which emphasizes innovation, technology, and collaboration as essential pillars for driving prosperity for all Nigerians.

     “As we take stock of our progress in broadband development, we can be proud of the strides we’ve made. From a modest six per cent broadband penetration in 2015, we’ve grown to approximately 42 per cent as of October 2024, as reported by the NCC. While this progress is commendable, we recognize that there is much more to be done to ensure that every Nigerian can enjoy the benefits of reliable, high-speed internet.

    “The National Broadband Plan (2020–2025) and the Ministry’s strategic blueprint outline a bold yet achievable path forward. Our goals include: achieving 70per cent broadband penetration by 2025; delivering minimum data speeds of 25 Mbps in urban areas and 10 Mbps in rural areas; expanding population coverage to 80per cent by 2027; and increasing broadband investments by 300–500per cent by 2027.

    “These targets reflect our unwavering commitment to ensuring that broadband is accessible, affordable, and inclusive for all Nigerians. However, we are also aware of the challenges that lie ahead. Achieving these goals will require more than just the efforts of the private sector. It will require a holistic approach that includes strategic partnerships with donors, investors, and other key stakeholders in accelerating the roll-out of critical infrastructure.

    “Through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), we are leveraging grants and investments to deploy 90,000 km of backbone fibre across Nigeria. This effort aims to connect even the most underserved communities—those often seen as commercially unviable by the private sector—with the life-changing benefits of broadband,” Tijani said.

    He said NBAN is the government response to this challenge; it is a platform for collaboration, bringing together a broad range of stakeholders, including: public institutions, such as schools, hospitals, and government offices; telecom operators and infrastructure providers; technology companies, civil society organizations, and international partners.

    “The goal of the NBAN is simple yet profound: to transform broadband into a catalyst for socio-economic development. By aggregating demand across key sectors—schools, healthcare facilities, religious centres, and markets—we will create an economically viable model for broadband adoption. This aggregation of demand will unlock untapped capacity and also drive down costs, enhance affordability, and stimulate widespread adoption,” Tijani said.

    In his welcome address, Dr Maida said the coming together of stakeholders puts the industry at the intersection of opportunity and transformation, recognising that “the true potential of Nigeria’s digital economy can only be realised when we come together, government, private sector, regulators and civil society in a spirit of collaboration”.

    He said under the guidance of President Tinubu, technology and innovation has been firmly positioned as pillars of Nigeria’s socio-economic development. This recognition of the power of digital connectivity to drive national growth is now taking shape through initiatives like NBAN.

    “Mr President’s vision for a thriving digital economy has also been expressed by his recent signing of the Executive Order on Critical National Information Infrastructure last year July. This Presidential Order designates all telecoms infrastructure as critical national infrastructure and thus compels its protection by law enforcement agencies. This is a clear reflection of his unwavering commitment to securing and strengthening Nigeria’s digital infrastructure for a more resilient and connected future.

    “The Alliance is a testament to his dedication to the spirit of collaboration for the greater good. Through this innovative platform, Nigeria will be creating a digital landscape where broadband is accessible, affordable and transformative, ensuring that no Nigerian, whether in urban centres or rural areas, is left behind.

    “The launch of NBAN today represents a pivotal moment in driving collaboration and tackling the key challenges that have hindered our broadband expansion. From high-rises to infrastructure vandalism to investment barriers and the need for demand-driven solutions, NBAN offers a comprehensive framework to overcome these obstacles and unlock the potential of broadband connectivity.

    “This framework will steer our collective efforts to bridge the digital divide, ensuring broadband connectivity becomes a powerful catalyst for job creation, innovation, economic growth and social development. It is important that broadband is not an end in itself. It is the key to unlocking the vast potential of every sector of our economy. It is the gateway to improving education, healthcare, commerce and governance,” he said.

    The minister said broadband is far more than a tool for connectivity—it is a driver of productivity, innovation, and economic diversification. Its impact on various sectors is profound.

    In education, he said high-speed internet will connect students in remote areas to global learning resources, narrowing the educational divide. Teachers will have access to professional development platforms, enhancing their ability to deliver quality education.

    In healthcare, he said telemedicine will bridge the gap between urban specialists and rural patients, improving healthcare outcomes and reducing costs. Real-time data sharing will also enhance disease surveillance and outbreak management.

    On financial inclusion, broadband will enable digital financial services, bringing millions of unbanked Nigerians into the formal economy, fostering entrepreneurship, and improving access to financial resources.

    Also on the drive for e-governance, Tijani said broadband will empower citizens with greater access to government services, reducing inefficiencies and promoting transparency.

    “E-commerce and Innovation: By connecting underserved regions, broadband will unlock new markets for e-commerce, fostering job creation and economic growth.

    “These benefits align directly with the Ministry’s mission to diversify Nigeria’s economy and enhance productivity across all sectors, contributing to sustainable growth and development,” the minister said, adding that these transformative goals require more than just policy; it requires collaboration.

    He said NBAN is founded on the principle that no single entity can achieve universal broadband access alone and commended the pilot states—Edo, Ogun, Kwara, Katsina, Imo, Abia, Borno, and Nasarawa — for their leadership in addressing challenges like right-of-way fees and for creating an enabling environment for broadband expansion.

    “Now, we aim to build on this momentum by fostering streamlined regulatory processes to expedite fibre deployment; incentives for private sector investment, especially in underserved areas; and public awareness campaigns to drive adoption and consumption.

    “The Renewed Hope Agenda calls for bold, innovative solutions to Nigeria’s challenges. Broadband is at the heart of this agenda. It empowers every sector—from agriculture and manufacturing to education and healthcare. Through the NBAN, we are not just imagining a digital future for Nigeria—we are actively building it, one step at a time. Together, we will ensure that broadband is a catalyst for universal access to reliable and affordable internet; significant contributions to GDP growth through the ICT sector; and enhanced global competitiveness as Nigeria emerges as a leader in the digital economy,” the minister said.

  • Minister pledges support for indigenous tech firms

    Minister pledges support for indigenous tech firms

    The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani has promised government support for indigenous technology companies, through collaboration.

    The minister gave the promise in Lagos during his visit to Imose Technologies smartphone/tablet assembly factory.

    Satisfied with his on-the-spot assessment of the factory, Tijani said the assessment of Imose Technologies factory, would enable the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to understand how best it could support indigenous companies to scale.

    “We need companies, businesses that can actually truly build solutions for our people. In the digital economy space, we can’t achieve our objectives without local companies. Even as we start to invest in fiber optic networks to ensure we can reach all of our people, it’s going to be useless if people don’t have the devices, such as the phone, the tablets, the laptops to be able to access the internet and use it for meaningful purposes.

    “So that’s why we need indigenous companies like Imose Technologies and many more out there to understand their pain points and how we can support them so that they can start to truly fully manufacture devices in Nigeria. And that way it can become affordable and our people can have access,” Tijani said.

    He further said there were several ways the government could collaborate with indigenous companies to boost local manufacturing in Nigeria.

    “There are so many ways we can collaborate. For every sector, there’s a complete supply chain and there’s also what you may call the value chain through which the actual product is created and consumed. Government cannot leave all of that to private companies to do. There is a need for collaboration and as a government, we have to ensure that our regulations are proper to allow indigenous companies to develop solutions and manufacture products,” Tijani said.

    Commending Imose Technologies for their manufactured and assembled products, the minister said the government would be interested in supporting the company to further drive down the cost of production and make the products available and accessible to Nigerians.

    Read Also: Ministers urge journalists to enhance science, technology reporting

    Chairman/Founder, Imose Technologies, Mr. Osayi Izedonmwen, thanked the minister for his visit and assessment, while emphasising smartphone batteries as one of the core components that could drive down the cost of producing mobile phones.

    Given the large concentration of Lithium in Nigeria, Izedonmwen envisions a future where Imose Technologies could produce Lithium batteries for mobile phones locally, with a bigger plan to mass-produce such mobile phone batteries for export.

    “Nigeria has large Lithium deposits spread across many parts of the country and companies are now coming into Nigeria to invest in the processing of the Lithium raw material for export. We believe that in the near future Imose Technologies should be at the forefront of producing smartphone batteries from Lithium,” Izedonmwen said.

  • NDPC, NIMC to probe private website’s alleged access to Nigerians’ data, says Tijani

    NDPC, NIMC to probe private website’s alleged access to Nigerians’ data, says Tijani

    The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) are set to investigate the alleged access to the data of registered Nigerians.

    The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, announced this through his X handle amid the report of a private website having free course to the data of Nigerians.

    The private website, XpressVerify.com, in a published report, was accused of having unrestricted access to the National Identification Numbers (NINs) and personal details of registered Nigerians.

    According to the report, the website has since monetised the recovery of NINs and personal information on the Nigerian identification database.

    “Anybody can retrieve details, such as phone numbers, full names, NIN, address and photographs of any Nigerian whose data is on the National Identity Database with as low as N200.

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    “The website does not confirm what type of person can check what type of information. There were no restrictions to the number of NIN-related data that could be fetched when FIJ checked.

    “Vendors across different Nigerian cities have been checking the NINs and phone numbers of citizens from the same database NIMC ought to maintain and keep secure,” the report said.

    Responding to the report, Tijani explained that the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has ceased to be under the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.

    The minister said the primary legal institution responsible for identity management system and regulations of the identity sector would work closely with the nation’s data protection agency to probe the matter.

    “NIMC is no longer under @FMCIDENigeria but our @ndpcngr will work with colleagues at @nimc_ng to investigate this immediately. Thanks for sharing,” Tijani said.

    In the wake of the development, The Nation had reported that Namecheap Incorporated, the domain registrar through which the private website’s domain was purchased, indicated that it has suspended the domain of the identity verification website.

  • Broadband: FG, World Bank target 3 billion dollars for 120,000km fibre optic cables

    Broadband: FG, World Bank target 3 billion dollars for 120,000km fibre optic cables

    The federal government and the World Bank are targeting about 3 billion dollars to fund an additional 120,000km of fibre optic cables to leapfrog broadband infrastructures and connectivity.

    According to the Minister of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, the initiative also involved stakeholders from the private sector, and it is expected to be delivered within the next three years.

    Speaking at the Transcorp Hotel, Abuja, during a stakeholders’ engagement titled “Broadband for All”, organised by the Ministry of Communications in conjunction with World Bank, Tijani said it had become imperative to seek investments in the nation’s Digital Backbone to facilitate access at affordable prices to the digital space for all Nigerians.

    Tijani said: “We are here with critical stakeholders on how to attract investments and fund our broadband infrastructures. I’m sure everybody that is listening to me probably understands that now we cannot do without technology on the internet, so, we all need quality access regardless of our location.

    “There’s a need for us to invest in that databank. So it’s the kind of thing that we call the telecommunications infrastructure, or in some cases, we call the fibre optic cables. So there’s actually a cable that helped us make it possible for the internet to happen.”

    He said at the moment Nigeria had laid about 3,035km of fibre optic cables, but about 120,000km of fibre optic cables would be required for Nigerians to have quality and efficient access to the Internet and other digital services irrespective of their locations.

    He said in terms of finances, the country would require about 3 billion dollars to fix the infrastructures,  stating that through the World Bank, and other development finance institutions and the private sector there is hope that the funds would be raised within the next two or three years.

    The World Bank Regional Director, (Infrastructure) West and Central Africa, Mr Franz Drees Gross, said the first phase of the project would involve laying 95,000km of fibre optic cables across Nigeria,  saying it would immediately improve access and digital services content in the country.

    Gross who described Nigeria’s digital ecosystem as vibrant, said the World Bank is deeply involved and interested in supporting Nigeria to raise the needed funds for the project.

    Read Also: Nigeria’s broadband penetration, teledensity dip

    Gross said: “We plan to set up a digital National Broadband fund and to roll out about 95,000 kilometres of what we call middle mile cable. So that’s the terrestrial cable in the territory of Nigeria to bring broadband to more parts of the country right now.

    “I think Nigeria has about 35,000 kilometres of broadband cable. The idea is to add another 95,000 On top of that, and what we’re discussing with the government is, well, what’s the best way to finance that?

    “How could you set that up? How could you release some of the funding that’s available in the country using perhaps a universal service provision fund, USB, F, and other instruments? And how can the World Bank provide technical assistance and if needed, perhaps some financing for that?

    “I just want to say rolling out fibre is just part of the problem. What you want is fibre to bring low-cost digital access all over the country. You want to at the same time, invest in digital skills so that people have the wherewithal to get online and to use effectively and then generate digital content.

    “I mean, Nigeria has a very impressive digital ecosystem, a very vibrant digital ecosystem in Lagos. You guys could be the hub for exporting digital services to all of West Africa.

    “During the session, we touched on some of the comments. We were more broadly looking beyond Nigeria to look at Western Central Africa. Right now.

    “About 80% of the population in western Central Africa, lives within range of a 4g signal, 80%. But only about 40% actually connected to digital broadband. So what explains the difference? Why is it that those 40% live within reach of the signal and they don’t connect? The first issue is cost. The cost of a data package the basic data package exceeds you know what households can pay for.

    “Then there’s device affordability, you want to get a mobile device, that’s internet-ready that can get you online. The second thing is, even if people get online, sometimes they say, Well, I don’t see content that’s relevant to me, relevant to what I want to know. And that’s where the digital ecosystem in Nigeria comes in.

    “You want an ecosystem that generates the digital content that people want to access, you need public services digitized and online. So people like you are like all of us. Go online and do our government services online. And third, you need those skills. You need basic digital literacy for everybody. And then you need more deeper technical skills to service that, oh, they should have

    “I mean, Nigeria could be an exporter of digital services, just like you’re an exporter of Nollywood. I mean, everybody wants his Nigerian movies. There’s no reason why people shouldn’t be using digital content, digital services and digital products produced in Nigeria, right.”

  • NCC Struggles: All eyes on Bosun Tijani

    NCC Struggles: All eyes on Bosun Tijani

    As global telecommunications trends change, influencing daily lives and livelihoods, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the regulatory body in Nigeria, is currently contending with a pronounced quality crisis that has overshadowed the industry’s reputation. This regression has become particularly noticeable during Prof Isa Pantami‘s leadership, leading to a substantial deviation from NCC quality standards and a concerning deterioration in service quality.

    Operators, once held accountable for maintaining stringent quality benchmarks, have experienced a lax regulatory environment, leading to a noticeable deterioration in the overall user experience for consumers.

    The NCC’s role as a watchdog for the telecommunication industry, on multiple occasions, has come under scrutiny, with industry insiders pointing to a lack of sanctions for operators failing to meet the previously established benchmarks. The consequences of this neglect are palpable, as the quality gap widens, leaving consumers frustrated and dissatisfied.

    Despite the recent launch of 5G by three operators (MTN, Airtel, and Glo), the telecommunications sector in Nigeria grapples with a significant lack of innovative products to complement this advanced technology. This scarcity in innovative offerings contrasts with previous advancements such as 4G and 3G. Particularly noticeable is the absence of device incentives to encourage 5G usage, creating a disparity that requires immediate attention.

    Read Also: Bosun Tijani gets visiting professor appointment at S’African varsity

    Additionally, it highlights a lack of assessment on the part of the NCC and operators to comprehend the demand, while overlooking existing gaps in the telecommunications landscape. To make matters worse, the existing 4G is plagued with issues of slow connection speed.

    This technological lag not only affects the user experience but also raises questions about the industry’s preparedness for future advancements.

    Beyond technological concerns, there exists a pronounced coverage gap in underserved markets. According to NCC reports, approximately 35 million Nigerians lack access to internet or telecom services. This deficiency aligns with the World Bank’s assertion that internet access can lift 7 per cent of Nigerians out of poverty. The apparent failure of the NCC and operators to bridge this gap raises questions about their alignment with broader government objectives, particularly in addressing socioeconomic disparities.

    The sector faced neglect during the tenure of former CBN Governor Emefiele, further complicating matters. While other industries enjoyed sectoral funds exceeding 100 billion, the telecom sector struggled with credit access. Emefiele faced accusations of hindering the survival deal of Etisalat and subsequently reversing course to acquire the company.

  • FG secures $500m for local funding, says Bosun Tijani

    FG secures $500m for local funding, says Bosun Tijani

    The federal government has secured access to approximately half a billion dollars to initiate a local funding programme.

    The minister of communication, innovation and digital economy, Bosun Tijani, who disclosed this on Friday, August 25, at a dinner organised by the Tech community, also noted that the funding is aimed at boosting innovation and entrepreneurship within the country’s digital sector

    Speaking to journalists at the end of the dinner, which was hosted in conjunction with the World Bank, Tijani said, “So we’ve got access to about half a billion dollars to start local funding.”

    Tijani outlined the government’s plan to domicile local funding in Nigeria and ensure that it benefits true Nigerian businesses, adding that it will be collaborating with the Bank of Industry.

    He, however, highlighted the importance of supporting and promoting Nigerian businesses, stating, “We want to ensure that those businesses that will benefit are true, real Nigerian businesses.”

    He added that by domiciling the funding locally, the government aims to foster the growth and development of homegrown enterprises, ultimately contributing to the country’s economic progress.

    The minister assured the public that the initial half a billion dollars announced for local funding is just the beginning.

    Read Also: Hope, expectations as Alake, Edu, Tijani, others unveil agenda as new ministers

    He stressed that more investors will be brought on board, increasing the funds available to support Nigerian innovators.

    Tijani emphasized that the government’s goal is to leverage this money to attract additional investment and expand resources for local entrepreneurs.

    He added: “Part of my responsibilities is working with BOI to ensure that we domicile that funding locally in Nigeria, work with firms who manage and invest in businesses to ensure that those businesses that will benefit are true, real Nigerian businesses.

    “And what we are going to see is that the funding is available locally and in the coming months it is going to become larger and as these funds become larger we want to leverage that money as well.

    “So the government is not just going to put half a billion and that’s it, it can actually bring more investors to heart as we have more money, more of our innovators can have access to resources.”

    Also speaking to journalists at the event, World Bank’s Country Director to Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri, said the global financial institution has structured plans to collaborate with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to ensure the successful rollout and registration of digital national IDs for all Nigerians.

    According to him, the plan is to provide at least 148 million people of working age with a digital national ID by the middle of next year, marking a significant step towards inclusion and accessibility.

    He further reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to eradicating poverty, improving lives, and creating job opportunities for the country’s youth.

    Chaudhuri emphasized the potential of leveraging digital technologies to drive transformation and outlined two key areas of partnership with Nigeria to achieve these goals.

    He said: “Our main mission here in Nigeria is to eliminate poverty, make lives better create jobs, for all Nigerian youth. One of the areas that we think have the greatest potential is the area of using digital technologies to transform. Now to do that it begins with having this digital national ID.

    “So one of the main partnerships we have is working with NIMC to ensure the rollout of the registration so that all 213/220million Nigerians have a digital national ID, beginning of course with all people of working age and I think the target for that is at least 148 million people by the middle of next year.

    “The second is helping Nigeria lead the broadband infrastructure for broadband connectivity because Without broadband connectivity digital technologies will lead to a digital divide. So there support has been for good kinds of policies and regulations that will help invite private investment into this space and then fibre optic cables.

    “One thing, for example, working with states to persuade states to reduce the right of way fees and fiber. Cable operators have to pay more when they’re getting the land to ray the cable, all that is like the foundations and real potential comes from once you have the national ID all the technologies that apps that can be built on the weather to bring services to people, to people where they get people access to finance that all of that needs skills.”