Stories by Olabisi Olaleye
The Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu said plans are underway to expand the number of data centres in the country for a digital presence.
The platform, apart from consolidating existing government ICT infrastructure, also enables MDAs to exchange data in a seamless manner while allowing each other to remain independent and maintain its privacy and the security of its operatives.
Shittu stated this in a keynote address entitled, ‘Empowering Digital Governments to share latest innovative technology trends and government solutions with emphasis on Microsoft’s Technology platform to improve the capabilities of government within Nigeria’, which he delivered at the 2017 Microsoft Digital Government Conference in Abuja.
The minister said through the 1-gov.net, government has become more participative and accessible where citizens can participate in policy process through discussions, suggestions and online-polls.
“Various Government Departments are using this platform for seeking inputs on a wide range of issues. Using the 1-gov.net Platform, Government has been able to save 30 per cent of what it would have expended on a unit per unit cost. As at date 90 per cent of all MDAs within Abuja are linked with fiber backbone and 3,500 locations of different MDAs have been touched across the country. About 270 MDAs websites and applications are being hosted on the network, adding that“Government has recorded success in 1-gov.net, we now focus on some services that have direct bearing on the present administration’s priorities, and we determined to continue with the shared ICT infrastructure and services initiative in the MDAs. The 1-gov.net is promoting Whole-of-Government approaches in the information Age based on shared services. This approach will enhance productivity of government officials, increase experience of patrons of government services, enhance security and drive out the menace of corruption.
He said the government recognises the urgent need to increase efficiency and transparency, improve and align processes, smart government and smart cities, attract new investors, bridge the digital divide, transform government transaction services, data-driven government, better access to and management of information, thereby enhancing citizen satisfaction and trust, meeting the needs of rapidly changing demographics and balancing costs while optimizing efficiency.
According to him, digital government is a vision statement that seeks to bring about citizen empowerment by harnessing the potentials of ICTs as well as seeking to transform government into digitally empowered society and knowledge economy in a manner that government is available on the palm of every citizen, where – The Government is open and the Governance Transparent Digital Government, he said, does not comprise the digital architecture alone, but it encompasses digital delivery of citizen-centric services, and ultimately, digital empowerment of the people.
“Internet users in Nigeria have crossed 90 million. The mobile users have also crossed 156million mark. The smart phone users are more than 60 million. Today, from booking of train tickets to payment of fees and taxes, from post office and banking transactions to issue of digital documents, online registrations to online applications and e-services, Digital Revolution is seen everywhere and touches almost every aspect of life of a common citizen.
The minister disclosed that government invests in shared ICT Infrastructure to secure the benefits of lower cost, increased security, increased innovation and faster service delivery, adding that government is supporting the development and sustenance of ICT applications that are driving cost effectiveness and transparency in Government Service Delivery. He added that applications supporting the Treasury Single Accounts (TSA), IPPIS, Budget Portal and BVN verifications among others are already resulting in huge savings.
The Ministry of Communications, he said,has expanded the Open Government Data Portal which is a part of the Federal Government Open Data Initiative, stressing that many civil servants have been trained across MDAs on the use of the portal.
He said government would appreciate the opportunity for Microsoft to help train our local ICT savvy youth and key into our local content policy on current projects and priorities to ensure a smooth transition, while he emphasized that Nigeria is the new bride in empowering Digital Governments to share latest innovative technology trends and Government solutions to improve the capabilities of government within Nigeria.
Commending the digital giant, he said,“I take this opportunity to applaud Microsoft and its contributions in the development and growth of the country through this noble initiative. The Ministry of Communications will continue to partner with the organized Private sector, and other stakeholders, in its bid to move the digitization efforts of the country forward. I would like once again to congratulate the Microsoft team for organizing this timely and commendable conference.
“I am aware that Microsoft in collaboration with the Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) are committed to supporting the government’s transformation by leveraging technology to drive productivity and empower citizens to do more regardless of location and time. Citizens’ engagement is a key performance indicator of any government and Microsoft, NITDA & NCC can provide robust platforms that help citizens provide feedback and queries to their leaders. Ultimately, digitally transforming government leads to good governance, accountability to citizens and builds trust between the government and its citizenry”.
NCC pledges level playing field
The telecoms umpire, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has assured existing and prospective investors of a level playing field.
According to the commission, its mandate is to regulate the telecommunications sector in line with global best practices and sustain investors confidence in Nigeria.
This assurance came on the heels of a courtesy call from a delegation from Standard Bank Group visited the Commission in Abuja.
Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, (NCC), Mr. Sunday Dare who received the delegation on behalf of the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), Prof.Umar Garba Danbatta said that the Commission has sole statutory mandate for the economic, technical and commercial regulation of the telecoms industry.
The NCC, Dare said, supervises a $68 billion investments telecom industry and has a clear mandate to create a conducive atmosphere for investment inflows into the economy in Nigeria and does that with rules that are clear, transparently made, uniformly applied and fairly enforced.
Stanbic IBTC Holdings (a member of Standard Bank Group) visited the Commission as part of its efforts to create enabling environment for international and local investments and meet with select organisations over strategic investment opportunities.
“We are committed to providing a level playing field for all stakeholders”, Dare affirmed adding that the NCC is focused on assuring industry sustainability and creating fresh investment opportunities through actions such as: aggressively tackling ecosystem challenges (Access to forex, Multiple taxation and Rights of way.
Carrying out a Comprehensive review of our Licensing framework and processes
Pursuing new options for spectrum efficiency(Spectrum sharing/trading, releasing new spectrum, etc)
Addressing pricing issues which impact business decisions (cost studies on interconnect and data pricing are ongoing. A market study is also underway
In his presentation, “Overview of the Nigerian Telecommunications Industry”, Head of Competition and Tariff, (NCC), Mr. Abubakar Yakubu narrated how the Industry has witnessed unprecedented growth in terms of subscriptions to telecom services, network roll out, infrastructural development and investments. According to him, the Nigerian Market is ranked as the fastest growing industry amongst emerging markets in Africa.