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The Nigerian government is to spend N24.20bn for broadband internet connection in at least 20 airports, 43 schools and six marketplaces nationwide following the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) this Wednesday in Abuja. The FEC is the country’s highest decision making body.
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According to Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, the selected local and international airports are drawn from the six geopolitical zones with three airports from each on average.
The beneficiary higher institutions of learning and markets are also drawn from the six geopolitical zones.
The broadband infrastructure intervention project would bring internet connectivity to airports, ease e-learning in schools and ease mobile transactions in markets as part of Nigeria’s push into a digital economy, the minister told the media adding that the Nigeria Communications Commission is the implementing institution, he noted.
“Certain intervention projects, are going to be implemented by the federal government of Nigeria through the Nigerian Communications Commission of providing Internet in 20 selected airports in Nigeria and higher institutions of learning and also some markets to support micro small and medium enterprises,” Pantami said.
Adding: “In each geopolitical zone, you have around three airports. In the southwest, we have Lagos and Ondo. For the South-East, we have Anambra and Enugu.
“For the South-South, we have Port Harcourt and Akwa Ibom. For the North-Central we have Abuja and Ilorin. In the North-West, we have Kano, Sokoto and Kebbi. For the North-East, we have Yola, Maiduguri and Gombe,” Pantami explained.
The broadband project also covers 43 federal, state universities and polytechnics.
Last year, the FEC approved the provision of unlimited internet in 17 universities and one college of education.
“This one is the second phase of the project; and in the first memo approved today, we have 20 airports, both domestic and international. In addition, we also have 43 institutions of learning. So in total, 63 institutions are going to benefit and the price for this is N18.95bn.
“The second memo is for the provision of broadband to selected markets; six markets are going to benefit from this and the price is N5.25bn,” he said.
