•Builds capacity of stakeholders to secure investments
The Katsina State Government has targeted a 3,000-kilometre fibre optic network by 2027 as part of its revolving measures to revolutionize the state’s digital communication landscape.
The Director General, Katsina State Investment Promotion Agency (KIPA), Ibrahim Tukur Jikamshi, revealed this during a workshop on fibre optics infrastructure development held in Katsina.
Organised by KIPA in collaboration with the state’s Directorate of Information Communication Technology and Urban and Regional Planning Board, the one-day capacity building workshop brought together critical stakeholders, including traditional rulers.
Jikamshi said the state government has provided an enabling environment for investors to come into the state for the development of the 3,000-kilometre fibre optic in order to actualize it in 2027.
He explained that when the fibre optic is fully deployed and subsidised, the state would have an uninterrupted and secured network, with “100 per cent” hitch-free broadband connectivity.
He said: “The public, the entrepreneurs, academicians and every other person using the network know the importance of fibre optics. Katsina state government is targeting about 3,000 kilometres by 2027.
“So in this direction, what we have started doing now is to bring in primary stakeholders that have responsibility to secure the investments when the investors have come to do the deployment.”
He added that the state government has provided incentives such as free charges for Right-of-Way and associated charges, while identifying critical areas that are requiring the fibre optics.
He reiterated that Katsina was among the eight “M-band states” that met the needed pre-requisite to participate in the Nigerian first phase of the deployment of fibre optics.
While noting that the fibre optics will put Katsina State on the fourth industrial revolution stage, the KIPA boss said the state government has perfected plans to mount an investment summit on fibre optics in the state.
He stressed that the broadband network will generate employment, commercialise youths’ social media accounts and connect Katsina state to neighbouring countries for growth and development to thrive.
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