TECHDIGEST- Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has revealed that the Nigerian Government under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has improved 4G coverage across the country from 23% to 77.52%.

He disclosed this on Tuesday during the 3rd Ministerial Performance Review Retreat in Abuja while speaking on the improvements made in the digital economy.

According to him, Nigeria’s broadband coverage has improved from 33.7% to 44.65% in the past 2 years alone.

READALSO: NITDA Partners Google To Train MSMEs On Business Improvement, Revenue Generation Skills Using Digital Technologies

He listed what he said are the biggest contribution of the digital economy to Nigeria’s economic growth, including the deployment of 5G technology and the exponential growth of the following Nigerian tech unicorns: Flutterwave, O-Pay, Andela, Interswitch, Jumia, Piggyvest, and Paystack.

Prof. Osinbajo emphasised that the digital economy is one of the major achievements of the administration, noting that the rapid expansion of broadband access has been a game changer.

“In August 2019, the broadband coverage was 33.7% and today it is 44.65%, representing close to 13 million new broadband users. There were 13,823 4G base stations and we now have 36,751, representing a 165.86% increase.

“The percentage of 4G coverage across the country also increased from 23% to 77.52%. The expansion has also been helped by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy directly engaging the.”

He then spoke about Nigeria’s 5G ambition, pointing out the benefits of the fifth-generation network and how it will contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth.

“We now have Presidential approval for the 5G policy. In terms of density, 4G allows connection to about 1 million devices in 500 square kilometres, while 5G will allow the same number of devices in just 1 square kilometre. There are also very fast data rates of the 5G and more efficient energy usage.”

The Vice President went on to assert that the cost of data has crashed from N1,200 per GB in 2019 to about N360 today, thus making it easier for Nigerians to connect to the Internet.

“Now the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy has embarked on the National Information and Communications Technology Infrastructure Backbone II, (NICTIB II) to connect 20 States with fibre optics that had not been connected in NICTIB I”.

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TECHDIGEST – Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has commended the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) for relentlessly supporting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across the country.

The VP made this commendation in his speech to the participants and exhibitors at the 30th edition of the MSMEs Clinic held in Maiduguri, Borno State.

Osinbajo echoed that the MSMEs Clinic served as the bridge between the Federal, State governments, and small businesses in every state by bringing all relevant regulatory agencies together in one place to help the small businesses to solve their problems.

The VP said, “The idea is similar to providing an opportunity for patients to consult doctors of mobile clinics. The aim of the MSMEs Clinic is to establish one-stop shops. All facilities are provided for small businesses to benefit from the services, with working synergy of regulatory agency which will be more readily accessible and cost-beneficial’’.

He assured participants of the federal government’s full support for the cost of the shared facilities or shop facilities with the latest equipment to relieve the financial burden for the overall benefit of youth and women.

The VP urged the MSMEs to utilise the matching order of the FG to tap into this great opportunity with relevant government agencies like NITDA, which supports MSMEs from scratch.

Earlier, the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Ambassador Maryam Katagum, outlined the support of NITDA in small businesses by creating opportunities for them to thrive.

Katagum said: “This is imperative for increasing productivity, creating jobs, and boosting our economy. Since its inception in 2017, the MSMEs Clinic has served as an effective platform to enable government interaction with stakeholders across all sectors to ensure that all MSMEs have the supports they need to grow and flourish.

According to her, “the 30th edition was intended to provide MSMEs with critical information, regulation and additional assistance, avail businesses with immediate expert advice, as well as offer more in-depth advisory services.”

On its part, NITDA promised to continue its nationwide support to MSMEs for economic impact and growth that will help businesses to adopt digital innovation.

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