By Business AM
The federal government of Nigeria has awarded contracts for the deployment of broadband infrastructure in 18 tertiary institutions across Nigeria, comprising 17 universities and 1 College of Education.
Each of the projects will cost N400 million, as approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital economy, said.
Similarly, 20 markets selected from across Nigeria would also benefit from the broadband infrastructure projects, he said.
The projects are part of moves to achieve 70 percent broadband penetration in the country by the year 2025, as set in the Nigeria National Broadband Plan (NNBP 2020-2025).
At the award of the contracts letters in Abuja, Pantami said 18 institutions of higher learning, three from each of Nigeria’s six geo-political zones, will be the first set to benefit from the government’s broadband initiative.
The broadband projects will improve the quality of education in Nigerian schools and link local businesses with the international community for economic growth, he said.
The benefitting institutions include the University of Lagos; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Federal University of Technology, Owerri; Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; University of Calabar; University of Benin; and the University of Port Harcourt.
Others are Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; Bayero University, Kano; Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University, Katsina; Borno State University; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; Gombe State University; Federal University of Technology, Minna; University of Ilorin; University of Abuja; and College of Education (Special), Ibadan.
In the same vein, the markets selected three from each geo-political zone to benefit from the broadband projects include Computer Village in Lagos; Wuse market in Abuja; Kantin Kwari Market, Kano; Central Market, Lafia, Nasarawa State; Mandate Market, Ilorin; Jos Main Market, Plateau State; Jimeta Central Market, Yola; New Market, Gombe; Monday Market, Maiduguri; Central Market, Gusau, Zamfara State; Central Market, Katsina, Katsina State; and Bodija Market, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Others are Oja Oba, Akure, Ondo State; Kuto, Abeokuta, Ogun State; Ariaria International Market, Aba, Abia State; International Modern Market, Owerri, Imo State; Main Market, Onitsha, Anambra State; Watt Market, Calabar, Cross River; Oba Market, Benin, Edo State; and Swali Market, Yenegoa, Bayelsa State.
