Receiving communi-cations minister, Cornelius Adebayo, who was on an inspection visit of facilities of parastatals under his ministry in Dutse, Turaki noted that ICT was a large revenue earner in the communication sector, if well managed.

According to him, since ICT was based on human needs, it should be a top priority for the federal government. Turaki called on the federal government to ensure that each state in the country accorded ICT prirority. He solicited government support at exploring the state's information technology potentials in the state, explaining, "I have travelled far and wide to countries where this technology is used."

The governor argued that since ICT was already on the ground in the state, the only thing necessary was collaboration with multi-lateral agencies to build the required infrastructure. Turaki said that the state was negotiating bilateral treaties with global ICT leaders and multi-national corporations for investment promotion in information technology.

"We would continue to work closely with M-tel and NITEL here in Jigawa, as they are the only means of communication on ground for now," he said. According to him, NITEL services in the past were nothing to write home about as their facilities often broke down for between four weeks to two months.

"Things have now taken a new dimension with the advent of solar energy system been initiated by the state, as NITEL services is now normalised," Turaki said. While calling on Private Telecommunication Operators (PTOs) to come and invest in the state, Turaki assured that his government was ready to support private initiative as a means of ensuring a high and sustainable growth of the communication sector. 

He said there was an independent power supply that would support ICT in the state, saying adequate security of lives and property of investors were

guaranteed. Also speaking, Adebayo said he was committed to providing more lines that would enhance the usage and standard of telephony in the state.

He said the system would be standardised as this would allow more investors into the state and allow more access to the Internet, which would help accelerate the growth of ICT.  The Minister explained that expansion and habilitation projects that would boost NITEL and M-tel operations in the state had been approved. He said there was need for NITEL to show more commitment to service delivery, noting that as soon as more operators invest in the state, NITEL may be "pushed aside."

Source: mtrustonline.com/dailytrust