General News
Pantami Inaugurates Committee to Increase Broadband Penetration by 2025
Federal Government on Thursday inaugurated a Broadband Implementation Steering Committee (BISC), to accelerate the attainment of the country’s broadband penetration to 70 per cent by 2025.
Dr Isa Pantami
Dr Isa Pantami, minister of Communications and Digital Economy, while inaugurating the committee in Abuja, said the current 40.18 per cent penetration should be raised to improve the contribution of the sector to the nation’s GDP.
“If you look at the contribution of technology to our GDP, what we have achieved in the first quarter of 2020 is unprecedented, the contribution is 14.07 per cent.
“So this is a clear indication that the more there is proper penetration, the more the nation’s GDP will increase.
“Part of the plan is that we are targeting at least 90 per cent of our population in Nigeria to have access to broadband, so we are targeting 70 per cent penetration by 2025,” he said.
The minister said before now, the broadband penetration was 31 per cent but based on the recent report released by the NCC, the broadband penetration had now increased to 40.18 per cent.
According to him, it represents almost 10 per cent penetration in less than a year.
He explained that the new Broadband Plan, 2020-2025, was designed to deliver data download speeds across Nigeria at a minimum of 25Mbps in urban areas, and 10Mbps in rural areas.
Pantami said the aim was to ensure effective coverage of at least 90 per cent of the population by 2025 at a price not more than N390:00 per 1GB of data (i.e. two per cent of median income or one per cent of minimum wage).
According to the minister, the plan is being tailored in line with the pledge by President Muhammadu Buhari to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.
“The plan will accelerate the aspiration of the country, as it leap frogs with the rest of the developed world toward the widespread deployment of 5G technologies, even while it is yet to achieve significant 4G coverage and adoption.
“With the 14.7 per cent contribution to the nation’s GDP, Nigerian government believes that rapid rollout of broadband services will address various socio-economic challenges faced by the country.
“Some of the challenges include: to grow its economy, create jobs, rapidly expand the tax base, and improve digital literacy and educational standards,” he said
He added that the current plan was to ensure the deployment of nationwide fibre coverage to reach all state capitals and a point of presence in at least 90 per cent of local government headquarters.
According to him, it also targeted to reach tertiary institutions, major hospitals in each state and 60 per cent of base stations by 2025 at statutory rates of N145 per meter for Right of Way (RoW).
He said that the ministry’s engagement with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum had inspired several state governments to adopt the N145 per meter and a few of these states had waived the fee altogether.
“President Buhari has also directed the security agencies to protect all critical national infrastructure,” he said
On jobs creation, Pantami said that the fibre to the Home Council Europe, a 25 million EUR investment in information and communications technology, including smart grid and broadband, would create or retain 700,000 jobs.
The minister noted that out of the figure 360,000 would be small business jobs.
He said that higher standard of living and socio-economic development had caused the growth of e-health, e-education and e-government, among others.
He, however, mandated the committee to ensure effective monitoring and implementation of the plan.
“You are expected to adopt the Broadband Plan as your working manual; you should become very familiar with the 100-page document.
“I believe that a combination of the knowledge of its content and your subject matter expertise will enable you to provide a catalyst for innovative solutions to the implementation of the Plan.
“I often state that no Policy or Plan can implement itself.
“As such, it is critical to ensure that an adequate level of monitoring and feedback are integrated into your activities,” he said.
In his remarks, Prof Umar Danbatta, executive vice chairman (EVC), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), thanked the Minister for putting the committee together and urged it to work in synergy with other related agencies.
Mr Ubale Maska, chairman of the Committee, who is also the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, NCC, explained that broadband was the centre of any digital economy of a country.
“We are humbled to be members of the implementation committee responsible for steering the National Broadband Plan (NBBP).
“We express our commitment to bring to bear our wealth of experience for the successful implementation of the plan,” he said.
Other dignitaries at the occasion includes Mr Kashifu Inuwa, director general of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Prof. Mohammed Abubakar, managing director of Galaxy Backbone.
Africa heads into the Age of Intelligence with a distinct advantage: its people. By 2030, Sub-Saharan Africa will account for half of all new workers worldwide.
According to a new report, this is more than just a demographic fact; it is a historic opportunity. The report also states that talent remains the critical foundation of the AI stack—talent, data, compute, and use cases.
Zindi’s Kenya country report, compiled in collaboration with Dalberg Data Insights and the International Centre for AI Research Ethics, explored employability and career outcomes.
Zindi is professional community of African data scientists, working to solve the world’s most pressing challenges using machine learning and AI.
The report’s forward was written by Philip Thigo, special envoy on technology of Kenya, and states that without skilled employees, data is unrefined, compute is idle, and use cases are irrelevant. And he makes it clear: Africa’s talent is already contributing to the global AI economy, rather than waiting to be included.
Thigo goes on to say the evidence is compelling, stating: “Nearly 1 in 5 Kenyan Zindi users experienced a career change after joining the platform.
“More than 80% of those with completed profiles advanced in their careers, compared to just 3% without.
“Completing four or more challenges makes a user four times more likely to secure employment, while engaging in teams and discussions makes them three times more likely to get jobs.”
“These findings highlight an important truth: employability today is built not just in classrooms, but also in communities of practice, peer learning, and collective intelligence.”
According to Thigo, in this dynamic talent climate, companies must look beyond degrees and leader boards to find a vast pool of market-ready AI talent defined by resilience, collaboration, and creativity.
Similarly, politicians and educators are informed that the message is obvious.
Thigo writes: “If Africa is to secure its place in the digital economy, we must reimagine how we connect our youth to opportunity. Platforms like Zindi show that talent is abundant; what is needed are pathways that translate skills into livelihoods, and ecosystems that link learning to work.”
For Kenya, he notes that this resonates deeply with the country’s broader ambition: to build a sovereign AI ecosystem powered by African talent, clean data, and green compute—ensuring that Africa is not just a consumer of technology, but a creator of it.
As the world becomes increasingly digital, our daily lives are now more connected than ever, through our phones, computers, and the internet we use every day. But with this growing connection comes a growing risk: hackers, scams, and cyber threats waiting for just one careless click.
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is using this Cybersecurity Awareness Month to remind Nigerians that cyber safety begins with individual responsibility.
Everyone has the power to protect themselves and their communities by adopting simple but effective cyber hygiene practices, including:
- Using strong and unique passwords for all online accounts.
- Enabling two-factor authentication to add extra security layers.
- Keeping devices and applications updated regularly.
- Backing up important data frequently.
- Avoiding suspicious links or attachments from unknown sources.
- And thinking carefully before sharing personal or financial information online.
The theme for this year, “Cyber Hygiene for a Safer Tomorrow,” emphasizes that cyber hygiene is not only a personal responsibility but a collective effort. When individuals protect themselves, they also safeguard their families, workplaces, and the broader digital community.
As we continue to build a secure and digitally resilient Nigeria, NITDA calls on all citizens to stay alert, click wisely, and stay safe online.
The Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee has unveiled the Excellence in Tax Reform Reporting Award, a landmark initiative to recognise and reward journalists and online influencers who provide balanced, accurate, and impactful reporting on Nigeria’s ongoing tax reforms.
The Award seeks to strengthen constructive public discourse, counter misinformation, and elevate journalism that explains reforms in ways citizens can trust and understand.
Announcing the initiative, the Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, stated: “The media is central to shaping narratives and building public trust. By equipping and rewarding journalists and influencers, we aim to ensure that the tax reform conversation is constructive, inclusive, and anchored in truth. This is how we build public confidence in reforms designed to secure our nation’s future.”
About the Award
- Eligibility: Open to all Nigerian journalists across print, broadcast, and online platforms, as well as digital influencers, bloggers, and podcasters.
- Entry Requirements: Published work between 1 July – 31 December 2025, in English, Pidgin, Hausa, Igbo, or Yoruba, that explains, analyses, or reports on the tax reform. Entries in local languages are to be submitted along with the English translations. Videos or podcasts should not exceed 10 minutes.
- Awards Structure: 1st Prize: ₦10m, 2nd Prize: ₦5m, 3rd Prize: ₦3m. The Top 20 finalists will receive ₦1m consolation prize each with plaques. Gadgets and training fellowships may also be provided.
Evaluation Criteria
Submissions will be judged on:
- Accuracy & Technical Correctness
- Balance & Fairness
- Clarity & Accessibility
- Public Engagement & Reach
- Creativity & Innovation
Awards Gala
Winners will be announced at a high-profile ceremony either in Lagos or Abuja, which may be broadcast live on major TV stations with livestreams on YouTube and X Spaces.
How to Apply
Applications will open via the official portal by the end of the year: fiscalreforms.ng
Follow updates on social media with #ExcellenceInTaxReporting.
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