ICT INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMME: THE NIGERIAN SITUATION

“New technologies can be an incredible tool of empowerment in schools, homes, businesses, community centers and every other part of our civic life.…Bill Clinton

In March 2003, the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Implementing Committee (HSGIC) approved the NEPAD ICT Infrastructure Programme whose prime objective is to integrate the African continent by harmonizing ICT Infrastructure initiatives across the continent, enabling trade, social and cultural interchange to take place with ease and affordability and ultimately assist Africa to “Bridge the Digital Divide”. The idea was that according to Bill Clinton, the capabilities of an ICT driven economy are limitless.

In response to this, many African countries have initiated moves and implemented policies to attain to this lofty height.

In Nigeria, the case is not different as successive governments have realized the importance of ICT infrastructure. The aim is to now explore the limitless world of e-governance.

The problem of inadequate ICT infrastructure must however be tackled first.

To address the problem of inadequate ICT infrastructure, the Federal Government of Nigeria has taken the following steps:

• Launching of the new National Telecommunications Policy in September 2000 to further liberalize the sector.
• Declaration of information and communication technologies as a national priority project.
• Approval of the National policy on Information Technology and subsequent establishment of a National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in March/April 2001, as the implementing agency.
• The launching of the Nigerian Satellite System programme by the National Space Research and Development Agency (NARSRDA).

These steps are to take Nigeria to its ICT promised land as one of the 20 leading ICT countries by the year 2020.

The private sector of the economy has also been very vibrant in the provision of innovative new products and services that has immensely improved ICT infrastructure over the years.

The pattern of governance in the country is however a source of serious concern to any discerning mind. Most of government’s policies remain on paper, while the few ones being carried out are highly politicized. There are no framework for implementing these policies and corruption being the order of the day remain a major militating factor against the actualization of government policies.

Therefore if we must get there, it must start from the top, government must be genuinely committed by sponsoring enabling laws, implement policies, experts should man government agencies on ICT, while a public-private synergy should be fostered.