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Cable Equiano: Pantami, Danbatta Pledge Enabling Policy Environment for Wider Connectivity
Nasiru Yusuf
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), and the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, have promised to continue to drive policy initiatives that promote investment in infrastructure in the Nigerian telecom industry in order to deepen connectivity to enhance the nation’s growth and development.
KANO FOCUS reports that the duo stated this on the sideline of the reception marking the landing of the Equiano undersea Cable System in Nigeria at the Open Access Data Centre at Lekki in Lagos.
Pantami and Danbatta commended Google LLC, the West Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC), and other investors for bringing additional bandwidth capacity into the country to drive connectivity and growth.
While Pantami was represented at the event by NCC’s Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Adeleke Adewolu, Danbatta was represented by the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services at NCC, Ubale Maska. Other senior management staff of the Commission at the event included the NCC’s Director, Technical Standards and Network Integrity, Bako Wakil, and the Controller, NCC’s Ibadan Zonal Office, Yomi Arowosafe.
The Minister said the Federal Government, through the Ministry, will continue to drive the implementation of existing digital economy-oriented policies already put in place by the current administration. Pantami also promised an enabling environment that encourages foreign and local investment in infrastructure project such as the way Google and its co-investors have done.
Also commenting, Danbatta said the Commission’s expectations, initiatives, and vision towards increasing broadband penetration, quality of service, advancement of a digital economy, and commitment to improving national security through technological advancement, are on the priority list of its regulatory interventions.
Danbatta expressed delight that Equiano has joined the list of other submarine cables at the shores of Nigeria, including SAT3 cable, MainOne cable, Glo1 cable, ACE cable WACS cable, Dolphin by Natcom, and MTN respectively.
The EVC assured stakeholders of Commission’s commitment towards ensuring that the huge bandwidth capacity from these cables at shore in Lagos would be transmitted to different part of the country to drive robust and ubiquitous infrastructure. This is in keeping with the provisions of the digital economy policy being implemented by government in collaboration with all stakeholders.
The EVC expressed optimism that Google’s investment in the subsea cable, Equiano, will be significant in driving NCC’s ongoing implementation of the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025, which aims at increasing broadband penetration to 70 per cent by 2025.
“We are hopeful that Equiano, together with earlier undersea cables in the country, will have additional landing points in the hinterlands through collaborative efforts with NCC-licensed Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos). This will help to reduce retail data prices significantly and thereby complementing the Commission’s efforts at ensuring that affordable Internet services are available to boost Commission’s ongoing broadband policy initiatives”. Danbatta stated and thereby helped to reiterate the objective linkages of policies and plans in the telecom ecosystem, and the national economic strategies.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who also witnessed the unveiling of the Google submarine cable, underscored its centrality to Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to boost job creation and contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), over the next three years.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of WIOCC, Chris Wood, also described the landing of the submarine cables as a major investment in the Nigerian digital economy.
The new cable system is named after a Nigerian hero, Olaudah Equiano, who survived enslavement in the 18th century and went on to become a famous writer and anti-slavery activist. Besides, the triumph over challenges, which Equiano’s life symbolised, the landing of the cable in Nigeria is expected to underscore Nigeria’s leadership as a regional hub for connectivity, and thus, set to attract cloud operators, content providers, content distribution networks and their associated ecosystems.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The deputy governor of Kano State, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, has flagged off this year’s Ramadan feeding programme with a target to supply 91 thousand plates of food per day across all the designated areas in the state.
KANO FOCUS reports that Gwarzo, who is the Chairman of the 2025 Ramadan Feeding Programme, expressed satisfaction with the smooth takeoff of the initiative.
The ceremony took place at Dandali Centre, Fagge Local Government Area, where the deputy governor urged the catering companies involved to ensure the timely and efficient delivery of meals to all feeding centers to achieve the programme’s objective.
Accompanying the Deputy Governor were the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, the Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Shelkh Tijjani Auwal, and other top Government officials.
A statement by Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, said, since the assumption of office by the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)-led government in Kano State, under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, the state government has institutionalized the initiative to support vulnerable residents by providing them with daily iftar meals during the holy month of Ramadan.
“This annual programme is a humanitarian effort aimed at easing the difficulties faced by fasting Muslims.
“The state government has approved the 2025 Ramadan Feeding Programme, with 91 designated feeding centers across the state. The initiative will cater to 91,000 people daily for 27 days.
“To ensure the effective implementation of this year’s programme, catering service providers have been engaged to prepare and deliver 91,000 plates of food per day across all designated centers,” Waiya said.
Salary Fraud: Governor
Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has suspended with immediate effect the Acting Head of Service and Permanent Secretary, Establishment, Salisu Mustapha, over alleged salary deductions and non-payment of some civil servants’ salaries.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, it was confirmed that Salisu Mustapha has also been directed to step aside as Permanent Secretary, Establishment, under the Office of the Head of Service, to allow for an unhindered investigation.
To ensure administrative continuity, the governor has approved the appointment of Malam Umar Muhammad Jalo, the Permanent Secretary, REPA, as the new Acting Head of Service, pending the outcome of the ongoing probe.
Governor Yusuf reaffirmed his zero-tolerance stance on financial malpractice, warning that anyone found guilty will face severe consequences.
The Abdulkadir Abdussalam-led investigative committee, inaugurated today, has been given seven days to uncover the root of the irregularities and submit its findings.
Salisu Mustapha was appointed Acting Head of Service earlier this month following the medical leave granted to the substantive Head of Service, Abdullahi Musa, who is currently receiving treatment in India.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Stakeholders have commenced two day engagement with Kano State House of Assembly to validate the revised 2025 Kano Education Law.
Speaking at the occasion, the Speaker of Kano State House of Assembly Jibril Ismai Falgore pledged to ensure speedy passage of the bill into law, as soon as as the legislative chamber receive the Bill from the executive arm of government.
The Speaker represented by his deputy Alhaji Muhammad Bello Butu-Butu said Kano Assembly remains steadfast In its commitment to effective synergy with all relevant institutions to the strengthening of the education law and practices in Kano state.
He Commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for prioritising education sector evident is the allocation of the sector in 2025 appropriation, as well as his support in institutionalising best practices in governance.
In his remarks the commissioner of education Dr Gwani Ali Haruna Makoda recalled that the draft bill has undergone several processes and scrutiny at different levels of legal drafting.
He charged participants to approach the document with an eagle eye while scrutining it’s content, sorting out grey areas that require amendments.
Earlier the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education Alhaji Bashir Baffa said the meeting was to assess the proposed draft bill, with a view to ensure that its relevance and effectiveness aligns with current educational needs and best practices.
Other objectives according to the Permanent Secretary include mapping strategies to ensure speedy passage of the amended Kano Education Law 2024, through executives and legislature engagement, as well as recommendations on next step.
In their goodwill messages Kano State Permanent Secretary ministry of Justice Barrister Mustapha, state team leader PLANE project Nigeria, Alhaji Umar Lawan, Chairman House Committee on Education Alhaji Sulaiman Mukhtar Madobi, and Co-Chairperson of Kano State Accountability Forum on Education K-SAFE Dr Auwalu Halilu described the review as timely.
It would be recalled that the Kano State Government had in June, 2024 commences the review of “Education Law 1964” as part of effort to overhaul education sector in the state.
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