The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and the International Press Council (IPC) have called for inclusion policies and strategies that could stimulate smooth information management among the citizenry to strengthen digital infrastructure protection in West Africa and in Nigeria.
They made the call at a workshop held in Abuja on Wednesday with participants drawn from different fields of life.
They expressed the need for up-to-date digital public infrastructure that resonates with the realities of daily lives of Nigerians and West Africa.
At the workshop which had the theme: “The Status of Digital Public Infrastructure in Nigeria: Progress, Challenges and Prospect, speakers called for functional infrastructure to enhance access to information and also maximise it to support national development.
They expressed worries that government neglect over the years had accounted for the failure of digital public infrastructure in Nigeria.
Director, Digital Economy Development Department, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr Salisu Kaka, stated that it required a huge capital to enable digital public infrastructure to function effectively.
He said: ” DPI thrives on accountability. It is a function of inclusivity. Nigeria DPI will succeed because it is on a journey.”
“Data cost is the responsibility of Nigeria Communication Commission. It is their responsibility to ensure all the rural communities are connected in Nigeria.
“There should be minimum access in terms of speed from 2, 3, 4, 5 G and now that 6 is about to come on board. D 77 broadband will enable every community to have easy access to crash down the cost of data challenge,” he stated.
Programme Director for Media and Good Governance, Abigail Larbi, said:” In Nigeria, the deployment of DPI and DPGs holds immense potential to transform the economy, improve access to education and healthcare and empower all citizens. However, significant challenges remain, necessitating collective action and innovative solutions.
” It is therefore timely and necessary to convene this forum to delve deeper into the status of DPI in Nigeria, its progress, challenges, and the way forward.
Stella Nwofia, Programme Manager, International Press Council, said the place of safety of
digital public infrastructure must be protected so that citizens can access whatever information they want at any point in time without going through unnecessary hazards.
