NCC to fund world-class infrastructure project in Edo

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has promised to establish a world-class ICT infrastructure across Edo state.

Sunday Dare, NCC’s executive commissioner for stakeholder management, made this promise when the Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki, visited him at the NCC headquarters in Abuja.

Dare said the commission was impressed with the “forward-looking policies” of the governor and assured him of the NCC’s readiness to support the achievement of the ICT aspirations of the state through the deployment of fiber infrastructure under the commission’s InfraCo project and interventions by the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF).

He said the NCC is aggressively driving accessibility to telecoms networks in all nooks and crannies of the federation.

Dare, however, regretted that multiple taxation and regulation in some states was denying them substantial revenues and developmental opportunities which could have been stimulated with the presence of telecoms infrastructure.

In his remarks, Obaseki said Edo state was exploring non-oil resources through an articulated development roadmap.

He said the focus was on creating a sense of order and a sense of security, safety and stability necessary to attract requisite investments to develop the state.

“Since its developmental goals relies on the seamless availability of telecoms/ICT infrastructure, Edo State is passionate about the need to attract robust telecoms infrastructure to drive manufacturing, education and other socio-economic activities,” he said.

The executive secretary of the USPF, Ayuba Shuaibu confirmed that the USPF had evaluated and agreed to support the college of education in Benin City, and the Institute of Continuing Education (ICE) in Abudu, with a grant to establish a computer laboratory and provide optic fiber connectivity to the institutions.

The parties, therefore, agreed to explore opportunities for partnership in the deployment of telecoms infrastructure in Edo State in a manner that would support the state’s developmental objectives and provides citizens with access to fast, efficient and  effective telecoms service whilst affording necessary protection for telecoms infrastructure in the state.