Dep Speaker Demands Reliable Telecom Connectivity For Good Education, Healthcare

By Kalu Eziyi, Umuahia & James Kwen, Abuja

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Benjamin Kalu has said reliable telecommunications connectivity is critical to driving financial inclusion, expanding access to education and improving healthcare delivery in rural communities in Nigeria.

He stated this during the commissioning of a telecommunications tower along Umuahia–Ohafia road in the National Universal Communications Access Programme (NUCAP) to connect unserved and underserved communities in Bende, Abia State by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani.

NUCAP is an initiative of the federal government to extend reliable mobile and broadband connectivity to communities yet to have adequate commercial network coverage for which President Bola Tinubu has directed that every unserved part of Nigeria should be integrated online.

The initiative will improve commercial and agricultural activities, amongst others within the rural communities.

Kalu in a statement by his chief press secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu lauded the initiative, saying that while reliable network service may seem ordinary to those who enjoy it, for many rural dwellers, it determines whether opportunities are secured or lost.

The lawmaker representing Bende federal constituency, noted that financial inclusion increasingly depends on connectivity, as mobile applications, electronic transfers, agent banking and other digital financial services require dependable communication networks.

“For those who have always enjoyed reliable network service, connectivity may seem ordinary. For a rural trader whose payment repeatedly fails, a student who cannot join an online lesson, or a family struggling to contact a doctor, it is anything but ordinary. It can determine whether an opportunity is secured or lost.

“Where a person lives should not determine the limits of what that person can become.

“When the network fails, a trader may be unable to confirm payment. A farmer may struggle to receive money for produce. A household may be unable to access funds sent by a relative. Reliable connectivity helps bring banking closer to the unbanked,”he said.

The Deputy Speaker further noted that connectivity, alongside affordable services, financial literacy and consumer protection, will help more rural households participate confidently in the formal economy and support agents serving communities far from bank branches.

Highlighting the impact of the development on education, Kalu said the connectivity extends to the classroom beyond the physical environment, enabling children to receive online tutoring, access learning materials and participate in lessons.

“Our children should be able to receive online tutoring, access learning materials and participate in lessons beyond their immediate environment. Our teachers should be able to improve their skills and draw on wider teaching resources.

“Our young people should be able to apply for scholarships, acquire digital skills and explore opportunities without travelling elsewhere simply to find a signal. The talent is already here in Bende. We must provide the connections through which that talent can grow,” he said.

Kalu added that the digital infrastructure would support telemedicine, allowing health workers to consult specialists, share information securely and coordinate referrals, while ensuring that patients in rural communities benefit from expertise located many kilometres away.

The lawmaker also linked the connectivity to civic engagement, especially as the election period approaches.

“Citizens need access to accurate information. Communities need channels through which to raise concerns, seek clarification and engage their representatives.

“Electoral and emergency personnel need reliable communication. These towers must serve the whole community,” he said.

The Deputy Speaker said the constituency’s location and proximity to neighbouring states make connectivity valuable for trade, movement and inter-community relationships, noting that investment in Bende’s connectivity has benefits that extend beyond the area.

He said the launch should be seen as part of an ongoing effort, revealing that 16 locations requiring connectivity intervention have also been identified in the constituency.

Kalu urged the Ministry of Communications and its partners to work with his office and community leaders to validate the locations, assess coverage gaps and establish a clear programme for addressing them, stressing the need for reliable service supported by maintenance, adequate power and timely response to faults.

The Deputy Speaker expressed gratitude to President Tinubu, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy for initiating the project and choosing Bende for its launch.

He also appreciated the Abia State governor, Dr Alex Otti for supporting the efforts of the federal government and other various projects attracted to the State, assuring continued partnership with the government to accelerate the development of Abia.

He called on the traditional rulers and Presidents General of Town Unions to adequately ensure the protection of the critical national assets.

Earlier in his remarks, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Tijani said that the innovation will connect about 20 million Nigerians who have not access to telephone and internet services.

“Today, we are launching here in Bende a national project to connect close to 20 million Nigerians who currently have no access to telephone and internet services. Let me begin by recognising our very dear host, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu.

“My people, why are we here? We are here because where we live should never stand between us and opportunity.

We should be able to call our families, whether they are elsewhere in Nigeria or anywhere in the world.

“A farmer here with produce ready to sell, should not have to struggle to find a signal to call a buyer. A trader here should not lose a sale because a customer cannot find a network to make a transfer. And a family here whose child is ill at night, should not have to struggle to make a call for help. For many Nigerians, these struggles are part of everyday life. We must change that.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given us a clear mandate: work towards bringing every Nigerian online. Through NUCAP, we are delivering 3,700 telecommunications towers across Nigeria. Today, we are commissioning the first of these sites here. More will follow across the country in the coming days, weeks and months.

“My people, when you look at this tower, you may see a mast. I want you to think of a tree. When we plant a tree, it grows. It gives shade. It bears fruit. Even children who were not born when we planted it can grow up to enjoy it. That is how I want us to see this tower. Its fruits will be the farmer who finds a new buyer.

“The young person who learns a new skill. The trader who gets an order from another town. And the family who can finally speak to their loved ones.