Nigeria unveils draft national ICT policy

Nigeria: Nigeria’s Minister of Communications Technology has released a draft of the national ICT policy and called on stakeholders and members of the public to comment. The draft policy is posted on the ministry’s website and available for comment for two weeks before it is presented to the Federal Executive Council, the Vanguard reports. The policy aims to harmonise the disparate policies governing the ICT industry and serve as a general guide for the overall development of the ICT industry and a digital, knowledge-based economy. Minister of Communications Technology Omobola Johnson in August 2011 set up an ad hoc committee to develop policies for ICT industry, including telecommunications, broadcasting, information technology and postal services. The nine-man committee, chaired by the President of the Digital Bridge Institute Raymond Akwule, was given six weeks to conclude the work. The committee has since submitted its report to the ministry. The draft policy looks at the proposed government institutional structure, the roles of government, the converged regulator, ICT development agency, national frequency management council and public postal operator, as well as their policy focus areas in ICT development.