Nigeria Government to issue ICT policy blueprint in Jan 2016

The Government of Nigeria is set to publish a new blueprint for the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry in January, 2016.

According to a report via TelecomPaper, Minister of Communications – Adebayo Shittu said that the blueprint would essentially make the ICT industry a cash cow for the economy. He said he would be addressing the country in mid-January, 2016.

The report also added that the ministry will be receiving a lot of input from stakeholders in the country, as well as from Nigerians abroad, some of which will form part of the details of the blueprint. There will be a two-day retreat in Kaduna State in January, after which the blueprint will be revealed.

In the report Shittu had given a reassurance that, as the new minister, he is passionate about development and that he aims to generate a lot of employment in the economy. He said the government wants to put an end to the dependence on oil, and will continue to encourage local investment in the ICT sector.

Shittu also said, within the report, that a committee of public and private sector stakeholders would be set up to advise the government on critical ICT issues that affect national development. the report He said that the ministry would ensure policy continuity and that the National Broadband Policy would be considered, among other issues, as part of the new blueprint.