Airports, Markets, Schools To Get Free Internet As Nigerian Govt Approves N24.2bn

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a budget of N24.2 billion in order to provide free internet at 20 airports, several markets and learning institutions across the country.

Isa Pantami, who serves as Federal Minister of Communications and Digital Economy of Nigeria, disclosed this approval during the Council meeting presided by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on Wednesday.

The minister shared that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) will be responsible for the implementation of this project.

"The Federal Executive Council has approved two memos for the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) a parastatal under the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy," Pantami said, Premium Times reported. "In these memos, certain intervention projects are going to be implemented by the NCC."

He continued, "Internet will be provided in 20 selected airports in Nigeria and higher institutions of learning as well as some markets to support micro, small and medium enterprises. A contract was awarded for the provision of broadband in some selected airports, 20 of them are going to be covered in the first phase of the project."

Pantami noted that there are three airports in each geo-political zone, noting that in the South-west there are two in Lagos State, one in Ondo State while South-east there are Imo, Anambra and Enugu States.

"Rivers and the Akwa-Ibom States for South-south," he added. "North-central has the Federal Capital Territory and Kwara States; Kano, Sokoto and Kebbi States will benefit from the North-west, while Borno, Adamawa and Gombe States will benefit from the North-east Region."

Aside from airports, Pantami also announced that 43 higher institutions will be able to access the internet facility. "Some of them are universities, some polytechnics and the price for the contract which covers the airports and institutions of learning is N18.95 billion."

He disclosed that the "second approval was for the provision of broadband to some selected markets, at the cost of N5.25 billion," which makes a total of N24.20 billion for both memos.

As per Data Commons, only 35.5% of the population in Nigeria uses an internet connection. Whereas, another African country, South Africa has been titled as "most internet-addicted" people in the world, as per Atlas VPN.

According to Pantami, after the internet will be free in several institutes and airports, Nigerians will be able to do cashless transactions with ease and it will help the economy.

The country is currently going through a cash crunch after demonetization, which mopped up over 70% of cash in the country, causing an estimated loss of N20 trillion.

The cash crunch happened after the government decided to design three new currency denominations including N200, N500, and N1000. Moreover, they announced that the old notes will be accepted by only Jan. 31. However, the date was later exceeded till the end of this year after Supreme Court's involvement.