32,800 Power Generators in the ICT Sector Says Pantami

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, has said the Information and Communications Technology sector’s major challenge is constant electricity.

According to the minister, who spoke at the inauguration of 11 ICT projects executed by agencies in Abuja, ICT companies are spending a huge amount of money in powering their infrastructure and ensuring constant service to their broad esteem customers.

He said over 32,800 power generators are used to power infrastructure in the ICT sector alone despite having a power grid.

Responding to some of the concerns raised by Rauf Aregbesola, the Minister of Interior, on the need to improve growth in the sector, enhance security and boost the economy, Pantami explained that the main challenges holding the sector back were right-of-way issues and power constraints.

He said, “With regards to the issue of backbone, particularly broadband, I think it is an excellent observation.

“The intervention of the President on the right-of-way, vandalism, which we were able to resolve, is to improve the quality of service.

“The major challenges affecting the quality of service in Nigeria, one is with regards to vandalism of infrastructure. Two, with due apologies to our colleague here, the minister of power, is the issue of power, which is beyond our control.”

Pantami added, “You may wish to know that today in Nigeria most of our facilities in the sector are being powered by generators and they are supposed to be on the power grid.

“Based on the report I have received; we have over 32,800 generators all over the country powering the facilities while they (facilities) have been denied to be powered by the power grid.”