FG to partner British High Commission on digital economy drive

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, has pledged the support and intervention of his office towards the resolution of any challenges inimical to broadband penetration in the country.

Pantami was speaking during a courtesy call on him by the British Deputy High Commissioner Mr Ben Llewellyn Jones, on Monday.

Jones who was in the Minister’s office to explore avenues of expanding existing collaborations  and forging new partnerships with the Ministry, commended the Minister for his  Digital Economy drive, especially in the areas of broadband penetration and capacity building.

According to him, “I am here today to discuss how we can encourage more progress in the Right of Way (RoW) agreement in order to enhance Broadband penetration and also to explore more areas of partnership with the Digital Access Programmes.”

Pantami who expressed delight over the gesture, disclosed that the agreements reached with the Nigeria Governors Forum to peg the Right of Way (RoW) charge at a maximum of N145 per linear meter was already in full effect in almost all states of the federation and encouraged the Commission to expand the Digital Access Programme to include more states in the country and therefore, extend the programme to more beneficiaries.

It will be recalled that the Honourable Minister had met with the Nigeria Governors Forum on the 16th of January 2020 and successfully pushed for a reduction in Right of Way charges.