Communication nad Digital Economy
Digital Economy Boosts ICT’s Contribution to
GDP-Pantami
…. Digital Number to Replace National Identity
Card
Right from the time the Federal Government (FG) unveiled its
digital economy agenda, the performance and contribution of the
Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector to the country’s
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has increased, says Dr. Isa Ali
Ibrahim Pantami.
Pantami, who is the Minister of Communications and Digital
Economy, told the Economic Confidential in an interview that in the
second quarter of 2020, the contribution of ICT to GDP is 17
percent from 13 percent maximum, last year.
The Minister spoke when he received the Editor-in-Chief of the
Economic Confidential, Mr. Yushau A. Shuaib and members of the
Editorial Board in his office.
He also said that with the transfer of the National Identity
Management Commission (NIMC) to his Ministry, the concept of
digital number would be prioritized to replace the national
identity card.
The Minister disclosed that the broadband penetration has risen
significantly from a little above 30% to more than 42 percent
within a year, adding that “Any country where the broadband
penetration increases by 10 percent, automatically that will
increase the GDP of all other sectors by a minimum of 1.6 percent
up to 6.8 percent. “So, digital economy indeed is the future, and
it is all about prioritizing digital innovation and digital
entrepreneurship.”
On the transfer of NIMC to his Ministry, Dr. Pantami said the
digital number will henceforth be the national identity that will
enable Nigerians to access relevant services offered by government
agencies and private institutions.
The Minister said: “The new approach is the digital number, and
not the card. The number, which will be in the country’s database
will be linked to the person’s identity and will be attached to the
person’s passport and Driver’s License among others. So that if a
person want to access any kind of service it will be through the
digital number, which he or she will provide to the authorities
concerned, and they will render the service requested by the
person. So, there is no point promoting digital economy and
encourage people to be going out with cards. It should be
optional.
In his remarks, the Editor-in-Chief of the Economic Confidential
commended Dr. Pantami for ICT projects and Digital economic
programmes that were accomplished within one year of his tenure as
the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy.
Shuaib said: “We are indeed amazed at the tremendous successes
recorded in the ICT sector in Nigeria within a year, especially
when some sectors in other countries went under due to the
challenge of the Coronavirus pandemic.”
Read the full interview here “INTERVIEW: How Digital Economy
is boosting Nigeria’s GDP- Dr Isa Pantami”[1]
INTERVIEW: How Digital Economy is boosting
Nigeria’s GDP- Dr Isa Pantami[2]