The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, on Friday virtually commissioned seven digital economy projects executed by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)
The projects include Emergency Communication Centres established by the NCC in both Ogun and Enugu states.
Other digital economy projects commissioned by the Minister include the Community ICT Centre, Dutse, Jigawa State; Information Technology Hub at Abubakar Tafawa Belewa University, Bauchi; and Digital Economy Centres (DEC) in Imo State Polytechnic; Garki Secondary School, Abuja, and Ojodu Grammar School, Ojodu, Lagos State. These five projects were executed by NITDA.
The seven projects were inaugurated by the Minister during the virtual commissioning of batch nine of digital economy projects for a Digital Nigeria which took place at the Communications & Digital Economy Complex, Mbora, Abuja on Friday.
The ECCs are deliberate projects embarked upon by the Commission pursuant to its mandates, enshrined in the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, to dedicate a national emergency number and to ensure the protection of lives and property of Nigerians
To date, 19 states of the Federation including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, have benefited from functional ECC projects, the implementation of which has received greater momentum under Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, as the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive of the Commission.
By simply dialing a dedicated toll-free Emergency Number, 112, citizens can easily receive timely succor in times of emergency from appropriate emergency response agencies (ERAs) such as the Police, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Fire Service, Ambulance Service, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and so on.
Speaking during the commissioning, Pantami, who commended the agencies under his Ministry for joining hands in collectively advancing the course of the digital economy which he is spearheading, stated that the projects are in line with the tripartite agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The agenda, according to the Minister, focuses on the tripod of economic development, curbing corruption, and improving the security of the country.
“It is the goal of the Federal Government to leverage ICT to address developmental issues in our country and that is what we have been doing in the Ministry by facilitating the development of Nigeria’s digital economy targets through a number of policy and regulatory initiatives,” Pantami said.
In attendance during the commissioning ceremony were the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Engr Festus Daudu; the EVC, NCC, Prof Danbatta; DG, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Inuwa Abdullahi and the Postmaster-General, Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST), Dr. Ismail Adewusi.
Others are the Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NigComSat), Dr. Abimbola Alale; Director-General, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Dr. Abdulaziz Aliyu and Ayuba Shuaibu, Secretary, Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) who is also Chairman, Project Review and Commissioning Committee.
