Yemisi Izuora
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), has stated that Federal Government strictly complies with the International Telecommunication Union standards in the deployment of Information Communication Technology(ICTs) in Nigeria.
He stated this via Skype in Abuja on the commemoration of the World Telecommunication Information and Society Day Celebration (WTISD-20) which is marked 17th May every year. This year theme is “Connect 2030: ICTs for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)” held in Abuja.
The Minister pointed out that the top priority of government in the deployment of ICTs in Nigeria is to ensure the safety, security and health of the citizens in the country.
According to him, “This is our own priority whenever we deployed ICTs. There are standards of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) when it comes to deployment of ICTs. We always ensure Nigerians followed the standards and regulations and that will go a long way in reducing or eliminating any negative impact that could be perceived”.
Pantami stated that with the challenges of COVID-19 worldwide, government is effectively promoting social/physical distancing by leveraging on ICTs noting that, presently, government carries out most of its activities within and outside the offices through the use of ICTs.
He noted that President Muhammadu Buhari’s policy and strategy is more focus on ICTs hence he came up with the concept of Nigeria eGovernment Master Plan, Digital Economy, National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy for digital Nigeria and implementation of the National Broadband Plan 2020-2025.
According to him, “These are the policies in place and we have started to implement them which is a clear indication that Nigeria now focuses more on ICTs. Pantami stressed.”
Since 1969, the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day is being celebrated worldwide, which marks the founding of ITU on 17 May 1865 when the first International Telegraph Convention was signed in Paris.