President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the launch of the National Emergency Toll Free Number was to keep Nigerians safe.
He said this at the launch of Emergency Communications Centre and Toll Free Number 112 on Thursday March 19, 2020, in Abuja.
Also launched at the event was flag off of the digital innovation and entrepreneurship training; unveiling of the Nigerian National Broadband Plan 2020-2025 and commissioning of Communications and Digital Economy Complex.
He stated that all of which was to diversify the economy.
“The commissioning of the emergency number is to keep Nigerians safe. It will go a long way to improve the security of lives and property of citizens.
He added that, “Digital economy has been useful…”and “will also support us in fighting corruption.”
He commended all stakeholders for developing the broadband plan while calling on the minister to ensure protection of all critical network infrastructure.
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami said that with the new broadband plan 2020-2025, broadband penetration will rise to 90 percent in the coming years.
He noted that broadband penetration is important to economies. “Our plan is to give jobs to our youth. It is because of this that we created digital economy. We will move to states and train the youth on digital skills to ensure that they create more jobs. Our plan under digital economy is to provide jobs for our youth so that they become potential job providers and not potential job seekers,” he said.
Executive Vice Chairman Nigerian Communications Commission Professor Umar Garba Danbatta in his address said, “The launch of these projects is a reflection of the growth and development in the ICT sector which commenced with the National Telecom Policy and the full liberalization of the telecommunications industry.
