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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.
Aminu Abdullahi
Kano state Governor, Engineer Abba Kabir Yusuf has directed with immediate effect that all lands developers at Kano hajj camp to stop.
KANO FOCUS reports that the directives is contained in a statement issued by Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the chief press secretary to the governor.
The Governor gave the directive when he paid an inspection visit to see for himself the condition of the camp with a view of taking necessary measures of restoring conducive atmosphere as intending pilgrims for this year’s hajj from Kano are to start departing to the holy land in the next three days.
Yusuf frowned at the deplorable condition of the facility that was meant to serve as a home away from home for intending pilgrims from Kano state and beyond.
” I became restless because of the premonition I had that the camp is in bad condition and the visit I paid today attested to that and no any right thinking person could believe that this is hajj camp to accommodate intending pilgrims.
” I am not happy with what is on ground, the immediate past administration in the state had demolished 130 houses, 65 toilets and sold the plots to their cronies and if not because of exigencies of time as uplifting of this year’s pilgrims is about to commence, we would have bring the place back to its normal position.” Said the Governor.
The Governor went on; ” it is on view of the above that as the executive Governor of Kano state , i directed that all land developers at the hajj camp to stop immediately, otherwise recalcitrants would bear the consequences.”
On the preparations for this year’s hajj, the Governor assured of the commitment of the state government to do all what it takes for a hitch free hajj exercise.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Governor, Yusuf Abba, has approved the formation of mobile courts to ensure prompt prosecution of phone snatchers in the state.
KANO FOCUS reports that a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, said that the mobile courts would work with the Special Joint Task Force to try people caught.
Yusuf said that major streets in the metropolis had been lit up after eight years of darkness as the lamps were switched off.
“The return of street lights is part of the efforts by the new administration to tackle robbery, phone snatching and other criminal activities, especially in metropolitan Kano.
“The ongoing exercise started penultimate Tuesday and will continue until every part of the state is saved from darkness that provides cover for criminals and political thugs,” he said.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano state Governor, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf has urged petroleum marketers to reverse the prices of petroleum goods to its old rate in order to lessen the current hardship experienced by the general public.
KANO FOCUS reports that the appeal is contained in a statement issued by Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the chief press secretary to the governor.
The governor said he is aware that the marketers still had old products in stock that were supposed to be sold at the previous pricing.
“To reduce the needless hardship on the state’s citizens, the marketers should exercise some restraint and quickly reopen all filling stations with available products in stock to sell at the former price.
“As a concerned Governor, I am disheartened to see our dear People of Kano suffering as a result of an unjustified fuel hike, and the situation must be stopped right away,” the governor said.
Kano, according to governor, is the commercial hub for the country’s northern region as well as certain countries in West Africa, and its bustling populace continues to enjoy favorable business conditions.
The Governor urged the good citizens of Kano state to maintain their composure and uphold the law because the government is always prepared to make sure that people are doing their affairs conveniently.
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