BTAF: Nigerian Governors converge on Abuja for Broadband awareness forum

*The Nigerian Communications Commission discloses the overarching objective of the ‘Broadband Technical Awareness Forum for Governors’ is to promote the establishment of State Structures required for sustainable Broadband infrastructure development to attain accessible, affordable services for consumers

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

All Nigerian State Governors are set to discuss how to empower the citizens with the latest telecoms technologies as they participate in the maiden edition of Broadband Technical Awareness Forum for Governors (BTAF), organised by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and slated for Thursday, October 20, 2022, in Abuja, FCT.

ConsumerConnect reports the programme, which holds in the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, with the theme: “State Broadband Coordinating Councils: Potentials and Possibilities”, will appraise the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025, which targets 70 percent Broadband penetration and to cover 90 percent of the West African country’s population.

High-speed Broadband Internet facility

Mr. Reuben Muoka, Director of Public Affairs at NCC, Tuesday stated that Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, Honourable Minister for Communications and Digital Economy will be playing host to the historic and seminal assemblage of the state chief executives under the auspices of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).

Muoka said some strategic members of State Executive Council, telecoms operators, infrastructure companies (InfraCos), strategic partners, investors, and other critical stakeholders, would brainstorm on how the country could achieve the expectations of the Nigeria Digital Economy agenda.

The telecoms regulatory Commission also noted the Board members of the NCC, led by Prof. Adeolu Akande, Chairman; and Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the Commission, will participate in the BTAF.

The overarching objective of the forum is to promote the establishment of State Structures required for sustainable Broadband infrastructure development at the State and Local Government Council levels, stated NCC.

The Commission disclosed this is with a view to addressing hindrances to the Federal Government’s drive to achieve available, accessible and affordable Broadband services for the Nigerian economy and telecoms consumers.

According to NCC, the forum is expected to affirm the commitment of the government to adopt Broadband structure and last-mile projects, particularly the economic viability of Broadband deployments beyond the cities, with a strategic focus on funding models and procedures for remarkable and measurable impact.

Mouka further stated: “There will be a special panel session involving the Governors and development-focused partners both at local and international levels.”