CITAD advocates Federal Government recognition of Community Networks as service providers

By Muhammad Sulaiman

A non-governmental Organisation, Center for information Technology and Development (CITAD)  has urged Minister for communications and digital Economy Prof. Isah Ali Pantami to recognize community Networks as an additional tier of connectivity providers in the country.

The Centre also urged the minister to set up an industrial committee to establish an interconnectivity framework between community Networks and backhaul network operators as well as cross community Networks peers.

CITAD Coordinator, Community Networks Projects Haruna Adamu Hadejia, made the calls at a news conference held in Kano.

“Community network do not require government to budget money or market players to throw in additional investments, what are rightly needed is the creation of conducive environment for them to seeded and nurtures to sustainability through policy making and appropriate regulations”

“CITAD has for many months been undertaking community consultation and have secure the commitment of our communities to address their connectivity and digital gaps. At the time of this brief, 156 individuals and organisations signed the documents in support of the crusade”

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Haruna Adamu Hadejia said, it is a proven fact that affordable access to Internet is an enabler of development.

He revealed that 31 million Nigerians are living in unserved or underserved areas in terms of access to network, which comprise 114 locations in the country.

“the most recent ICT gap study carried out by the Universal Service Provision Fund, USPF, reveals that 31 million Nigerians are living in unserved or underserved areas. These areas comprise of 114 locations with population range between 1,000 and 906,000.

“This represents about 14% of the country and is greater than the populations of 188 countries, including Ghana, Tunisia and Australia to cite a few,’’ Adamu revealed.