Following the arrival of the Equiano undersea cable system in Nigeria, the minister of communications and digital economy Prof. Isa Ibrahim (Pantami), and the executive vice chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, have promised to continue to drive policy initiatives that promote investment in infrastructure in the Nigerian telecom industry in order to deepen connectivity to enhance the nation’s growth and development.
The duo made the commitment at the reception marking the landing of the system in Nigeria at the Open Access Data Centre in Lekki, Lagos.
Pantami and Danbatta commended Google LLC, the West Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC), and other investors for bringing additional bandwidth capacity into the country to drive connectivity and growth.
While Pantami was represented at the event by NCC’s executive commissioner, stakeholder management, Adeleke Adewolu; Danbatta was represented by the executive commissioner, technical services at NCC, Ubale Maska. Other senior management staff of the commission at the event included the NCC’s director, technical standards and network integrity, Bako Wakil; and the controller, NCC Ibadan zonal office, Yomi Arowosafe.
The minister said the Federal Government, through the ministry, will continue to drive the implementation of existing digital economy-oriented policies already put in place by the current administration.
Danbatta said, “This will help to reduce retail data prices significantly and thereby complementing the Commission’s efforts at ensuring that affordable Internet services are available to boost Commission’s ongoing broadband policy initiatives.”
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu also witnessed the unveiling of the Google submarine cable.
The new cable system is named after a Nigerian, Olaudah Equiano, who survived enslavement in the 18th century and went on to become a famous writer and anti-slavery activist.
