Nigeria's Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has asked state governors to democratize access to the internet in line with the Federal Government's objective of broadband connectivity for all by 2023.

It would be recalled that the State Governors under the auspices of the National Economic Council (NEC), had in 2017 agreed to harmonize right of way charges payable by telecommunications companies and related public utility infrastructure on Local Governments, States and Federal Highways, to encourage co-location of the companies’ fiber optic cables. 

This, he said, was part of the national commitment to make broadband connectivity available to all.

The Vice President spoke virtually on Thursday during the flag-off of the Ogun State Digital Economy Empowerment Project. 

Osinbajo said Governor Dapo Abiodun's initiative is a critical component of President Muhammadu Buhari's objective of broadband connectivity for all by 2023. 

He explained that FG had equally launched the National Broadband Plan, designed to deliver data download speeds across Nigeria of a minimum 25Mbps in urban areas and 10Mbps in rural areas, with effective coverage available to at least 90% of the population by 2025 at affordable prices.

In his remarks, Abiodun explained that the digital economy was to formally deepen the various advantages of information technology advancements into all sectors and making ICT one indispensable point of our economy. 

He said the ICT industry has continued to account for more than 21% of the State’s Gross Domestic Product, adding that it has continued to provide countless job opportunities for our growing educated and creative citizenry.