Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina says the state aims to achieve 70 per cent broadband penetration to connect its 34 local government areas (LGAs) by 2030.

Mr Radda said this at a two-day Business Roundtable on Investments in Broadband Connectivity and Safeguarding Critical National Information Infrastructure on Thursday in Abuja.

The programme organised by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has as its theme: “Right of Way and Protection of Broadband Infrastructure: The Road to Success in Broadband Investment and Connectivity.”

He underscored the need to promote digital growth in the state by expanding broadband access.

Mr Radda said the state had created a dedicated information and communication technology (ICT) directorate, to be headed by a young professional, to oversee technology-driven initiatives.

“We created the ICT directorate, which is responsible for and serves with responsibility for all ICT infrastructure in the state. We are giving it to a very young person who is bio-friendly and airborne and capable of heading it.

“We also have a vision because part of the things we want to do is to ensure that we have a penetration of about 70 per cent in our state by the year 2030,” Mr Radda stated.

The governor emphasised the importance of digital connectivity in driving economic growth, productivity, and national resilience, adding that protecting telecom infrastructure is a shared duty among the government, communities, and investors.

He assured that the state would cooperate with NCC and other stakeholders to achieve the goals of the event. He also urged increased investment in broadband infrastructure, particularly in LGAs, to bridge the urban-rural digital divide.

Mr Radda commended the NCC, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), and the World Bank for organising the event, which brought together policymakers, investors, and regulators to discuss strategies for broadband expansion and infrastructure protection.

Earlier, the vice-chairman of NCC, Aminu Maida, said Nigeria had faced significant infrastructure challenges, including fibre cuts, equipment theft, and denial of access to telecom sites.

He said one of the most significant barriers to broadband deployment in Nigeria was the high cost of Right of Way (RoW) fees charged by state governments, despite a resolution by the NGF fixing the rate at N145 per linear metre.

Mr Maida said the NCC was working to improve broadband infrastructure, including the deployment of 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic backbone infrastructure in the country.

He hinted that the commission had inaugurated a broad public awareness drive, which included TV and radio jingles, social media campaigns, and community engagement initiatives to mobilise citizens in protecting telecom infrastructure.

Mr Maida also said that the commission, alongside the Office of the National Security Advisor (ONSA), had deepened collaborations with sub-nationals and their institutions, as well as the judiciary, for deterrence and speedy prosecution.

In his presentation, Enebong Effiom, the director of critical national assets and infrastructure protection, Office of the National Security Advisers (ONSA), urged state governments to align with national broadband penetration initiatives or risk being economically disadvantaged.

(NAN)