By 
By Oluwatobi Opusunju
Nigerian government has developed a new ICT strategic road map that would make affordable broadband access an essential part of national economic planning in pursuance of the vision 20:2020 as laid down by the President Buhari’s administration in order to make Nigeria a top 20 global economy by 2020.
The Minister of Communications, Barr. Adebayo Shittu disclosed this during the Alliance for Affordable Internet’s (A4AI) launch of its 2017 Affordability Report at the Internet Freedom Forum that held recently in Lagos, Barr.Shittu said the Country’s ICT development blueprint and National Broadband Plan (NBP) would be implemented holistically for the next two to three years.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria recognizes the urgent need to increase access to, and usage of, internet and broadband in Nigeria. As part of its over-reaching national development plan, Vision 20:2020, which outlines the Federal Government’s aim to make Nigeria a top 20 global economy by 2020, ICTs have been given a central role,” he said.
“In order to rationalize the work towards achieving Vision 20:2020, the government of Nigeria has developed the new ICT strategic roadmap,” Shittu added.
He said the ICT strategic roadmap the Federal Government is already before the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approval which further confirms the country’s plan in making ICTs a cash cow while it battles to wriggle out of the present economic situation.
Shittu urged the stakeholders at the forum to come up with groundbreaking ideas and actionable outcomes the ministry could work with to achieve the vision 20:2020.
