Minister Advocates Robust National ICT

The Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, says a robust national Information and Communication Technology (ICT) policy will help create the environment for rapid economic development.

Johnson made the statement at the inaugural meeting of the National Council on Communication Technology (NCCT) in Abuja on Tuesday.

NCCTwas inaugurated by the ministry on July 2011 to deepen the national ICT policy drafting process and ensure its logical conclusion.

The council also expected to serve as a national advisory body to the government on policies and strategies related to ICT and the harmonisation of a national ICT policy.

The minister said prior to the creation of the Ministry of Communication Technology, there were disparate policies governing various aspects of the ICT sector.

She said it was crucial for the country to review all exiting IT, telecommunications and broadcasting policies with a view to harmonising and streamline them to produce one single policy for the ICT sector.

“A robust national ICT policy will create the needed environment for rapid development of Nigeria into a globally competitive and knowledge-based economy which a holistic approach to the policy drafting process will help to achieve.

“The council shall become the common platform for the planning and coordination of all programmes and activities in ICT geared towards a robust private sector participation in ICT development both at the federal, state and local government levels,’’ Johnson said.

She, however, urged members of the council to deliberate on issues that would ensure the success of the National ICT policy.

The Minister of FCT, Sen. Bala Mohammed, said the harmonisation of ICT policy was important to bridge the digital gap in the country.

Mohammed, represented by Hajiya Jamilah Taugaza, the Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Information Management System, said the policy was important for effective use of ICT in Internet, mobile telephony and other areas of national development.

“The most advanced ICT countries of the world, like Sweden, Iceland, Norway, UK, Republic of Korea, etc, have demonstrated that there are huge economic incentives and benefits in using an integrated system approach to unleash a climate of growth and development in a country,’’ he said.

He also advised that the council should use its experience to ensure the drafting of a sustainable ICT policy for the country.