Ministerial Screening: Nigeria’s Communication Satellite Would Perform Better If Sold-NTIDA, DG

The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr Isa Pantami has rolled out some of the main challenges facing the Nigeria communication industry.

According to Pantami,  A 46 years old communication expert from Gombe state who was among the seven nominees screened by the Senate on Friday the agency would perform better if commercialised.

He said that NIGCOMSAT had played a great role in providing data for security intelligence, aiding communication in the country and commercialising it would enhance its performance. The director-general also warned that although privatising the agency would  be good for the development of the sector it also means that the security of the nation will be in the hand’s private institution

if the organisation is privatised, Nigeria’s security would be put in private institutions hand.

Speaking further pantami also reveal how Nigeria’s image has been damaged and has chased away investors

“Our image is worse than the reality,” he said.

He also said the government needed to work on improving the image of the country to encourage investors who would create hubs, employ Nigerians and reduce the rate of unemployment.

The ministerial nominee said there was the need for the country to embark on digital literacy across the nation which would enhance IT knowledge in all sector. The nominee added that the literacy should start from the teachers of IT in schools to ensure they could impact the desired knowledge to their students.

He called the creation of multiple IT hubs to aid digital literacy, adding that the agency had created seven in the past and if given the opportunity would increase the number.

Pantami decried the high percentage of out of school children stating that state governments needed to work to ensure the number was reduced.

He also emphasised the need for increased budget for the education sector, free education and laws that would compell parents to send their children to school

According to Pantami, children who are orphans should have special packages that will enable them go to school when their foster parents cannot ensure their education.