NCC applauds Ondo Broadband plan through Odua InfraCo, inaugurates committee

*The Nigerian Communications Commission lauds the Ondo State Government for commitment to Broadband infrastructure deployment through the Odua InfraCo, urges other states to take a cue by making high-speed Internet services available to their citizens in line with the Nigeria Digital Economy programme

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

For the agency’s commitment to deployment of Broadband infrastructure through the Odua InfraCo, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has applauded the Ondo State Government.

ConsumerConnect reports the telecoms sector regulatory Commission urged other states of the Nigerian Federation to support ongoing efforts at making the high-speed Internet services available to their citizens.

High-speed Broadband Internet connectivity 

Mr. Reuben Muoka, Director of Public Affairs at NCC, Thursday, November 17, 2022, stated a delegation of Ondo State, led by Olumbe Akinkugbe, Chairman of the Ondo State Information Technology Agency (SITA), visited the Commission’s Head Office, in Abuja, FCT, to seek advice on the best ways to enjoy seamless deployment of Broadband in the state.

The NCC noted that the move is a follow-up to the recent Broadband Technical Awareness Forum (BTAF) the telecoms regulator organised for State Governors in Abuja.

Muoka said Josephine Amuwa, Director of Legal and Regulatory Services of the Commission, who received the Ondo State delegation on behalf of Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice-Chairman of NCC, commended the visitors for their timely pursuit of the programme.

Amuwa, therefore, assured them of Commission’s commitment to achieving milestones in Broadband infrastructure deployment in the South-West state.

The NCC Director of Legal and Regulatory Services said: “We consider the meeting a watershed in our efforts at transforming Nigeria into a major digital hub in Africa, through transforming all the states of the Federation.

“We are particularly elated by the fact that your request for this engagement came on the heels of the Broadband Technical Awareness Forum (BTAF), organised by the Commission, for which we received a very positive scorecard from you.”

Challenges of Broadband infrastructure deployment

Amuwa also listed the challenges impeding the progress of Broadband infrastructure deployment in the West African country to include Right-of-Way (RoW) issues; indiscriminate charges and levies; and hostilities by local communities, among others.

Meanwhile, a tripartite committee to discuss the Ondo State Government plan with the Odua InfraCo, and the Commission, has been set up to deliberate and harness mutual benefits.

The Commission noted that the Committee is expected to recommend the best ways to drive the actualisation of such mutual benefits to Nigeria, Ondo State, and the citizens.

According to NCC, the committee will report to the Ondo State Executive Council through the NCC EVC/CEO on a monthly basis.

“The collaboration particularly targets how to use Information Communication Technology (ICT) to deliver more government services and simplify government operations,” said the Director of Public Affairs.