Omobola Johnson, Nigeria's communication technology minister. Image by HumanIPO
Omobola Johnson, Nigeria’s communication minister has expressed confidence in the actualisation of the National Broadband Plan to raise broadband penetration in Nigeria from 6% to 30% by 2018.
Johnson said this while speaking at at the Pat Utomi Center for Values and Leadership celebration of the ICT sector.
According to the minister, facilitating increased investments in ICT infrastructure; Spectrum auctions; Regional Infrastructure (fibre) Companies (Infracos); Smart States initiative (to reduce cost of infrastructure deployment) are part of the priorities set by her ministry to raise 3G/LTE Wireless Broadband Coverage to 80% of the population; and Fixed broadband to 16% of population based on fibre by 2018.
“Through Universal Service Provision Fund, issues related to critical national infrastructure, particularly at the rural areas, are being tackled,” said Johnson.
She also noted the improving status of mobile money in Nigeria as a good indication of better prospects for the sector.
She said: “More people in Nigeria have a mobile phone than have a bank account. 75% of adults living in urban areas and 39% of them living in rural areas have access to a pre-paid mobile phone. 18 Mobile Money operators have been registered in Nigeria and since the commencement of operations, there are approximately 1 million subscribers, about 67,000 registered agents and Over 11 million transactions worth US$600 million have been conducted,” the minister said.
