N21.4trn not enough to position Nigeria for digital economy drive – DG NITDA

NITDA DG, Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi

Director-General, National information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi has said that N21.4 trillion on telecommunications services is not enough to position the country for its digital economy drive.

“A nation can only prosper when it creates a strong technological ecosystem, which is a common feature among innovative countries,” he said in his office when he received a delegation of Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) led by the president Dr Ikechukwu Nnamani.

According the Blueprint, the DG stated that even though it was reported that Nigeria spends about N21.4 trillion on telecommunications services, more need to be done to grow the sector.

He added that the federal government is providing an enabling environment in terms of policy, guidelines and regulations by involving relevant stakeholders to achieve the three key focus areas (lower Internet and connectivity, digital identity and digital payment system) that drive the digital economy.

He notes that these and other initiatives are being worked on by the Minister of communications and Digital economy Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), who is also working on addressing the challenges that may impact on smooth operation of the broadband policy and the Rights of Way.

Speaking earlier, president Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) Ikechukwu Nnamani sought possible collaborations with NITDA given its unique place not only as the agency in charge of regulating Information technology in Nigeria, but also the agency to drive and deepen information technology in the country.