Federal Gov’t To Leverage NIGCOMSAT Infrastructure To Achieve 774 LGAs Connectivity Project

The federal government is leveraging on the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) infrastructure to achieve the 774 Local Government Areas LGAs’ connectivity project, even as it has connected 40 LGAs to the internet in the first phase of the project.

The Project 774 LGA Connectivity, a novel initiative, is targeted at connecting all of Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Secretariats with internet connectivity, thereby, creating jobs. This project aligns with the Strategic Blueprint of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy and, it is a significant step in achieving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s mandate to deliver efficient public service to Nigerians at the local government level.

To achieve this target, the managing director/chief executive officer, NIGCOMSAT Limited, Jane Nkechi Egerton-Idehen, told LEADERSHIP that NIGCOMSAT has commenced training of accredited installers in the 36 states of Nigeria.

Starting with the South-western zone, Egerton-Idehen averred that the training is crucial as it marks an important milestone in the Agency’s journey towards enhancing satellite communication services across Nigeria, adding that, NIGCOMSAT, being a co-anchor of the 774 connectivity project, is leveraging on the Ku-Band network asset of the NigComSat-1R satellite to connect 579 LGAs.

“We have already completed the first phase of the project which covers about 40 LGAs in eight states including Cross River, Imo, Kogi, Kwara, Ogun, Sokoto and Zamfara States,” she added.

Egerton-Idehen, who was represented by the head, marketing and stakeholders’ engagement, Olufunke Fagbeja, at the KA-band VSAT Installation training, on Wednesday,  in Lagos, said NIGCOMSAT’s mission has always been to bridge the digital divide and ensure that every corner of Nigeria has access to reliable and efficient communication services.

“A key part of this mission is our commitment to Public-Private Partnerships (PPP). By collaborating with our resellers and channel partners, we are able to leverage the strengths of both the public and private sectors to achieve our goals. Our resellers and channel partners are not just collaborators; they are strategic partners in our quest to fulfil our mandate.

“Your role is crucial in ensuring that the technology we deploy meets the highest standards of performance and reliability. This VSAT installation training is part of our drive in ensuring we build a network of accredited installers across Nigeria. It is designed to equip our accredited installers with the knowledge and skills necessary to install and maintain VSAT systems efficiently and effectively.”

Speaking on the importance of the training, the CEO said that the training will expose installers to the latest advancements in VSAT technology, best practices for installation and maintenance, and hands-on experience that will enhance their technical proficiency.

“Our expert trainers are here to guide the installers through every step of the process, ensuring that they leave this programme well-prepared to tackle any challenges they may encounter in the field. As NIGCOMSAT’s accredited installers, they get the opportunity to be NIGCOMSAT Channel Partners in the delivery of services to last-mile customers,” she added.