Nigeria hopes to realize its five-year Nigeria National Broadband Plan, but is fully aware it will need money to do it. Malam Ubale Maska, Chairman of the country’s Broadband Implementation Steering Committee, estimates a price tag of about US$5 billion, reports Vanguard News.
Dr. Usman Abdullahi, speaking on behalf of Maska, said, “We have several options and none is defined yet; we hope to raise something from the government. But as you can see, the government has its hands full,” he said, adding, “There are conflicting demands; we don’t know if that will happen. But the infrastructure funds that the Central Bank of Nigeria is floating is another source.”
Nigeria had a 30 percent outreach goal for broadband set for the span of years between 2013-2018, according to NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Umar Danbatta. Danbatta joined Maska and others in committing to this next phase of broadband development.
“I am very positive that discussions here will immensely help in improving our collaborative efforts and actions aimed at accelerating innovations, industrial growth and sustainable development of the telecommunications sector and the Nigerian digital economy in general,” said Maska.
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