A leading telecommunications businessman has said that broadband Internet is vital to the continued economic progress of Nigeria. In an interview published by Vanguard Nigeria, Ismail Olubiyi, Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Geoid Telecommunication Ltd, said that bolstering the Internet services in the country could lead to further investment. He also said that through increasing the Internet and broadband, 3G networks must also become a focus of operators in the country. “I think it is obvious given the increased penetration of wireless devices in Nigeria. While there is no readily available statistics to ascertain the level or depth of internet penetration, a greater number of Nigerians now have wireless devices such as the BlackBerry, i-Pads and so on,” he said. However, despite his calls for greater communications technology, he argued that the government should maintain a distance from the private sector and not get involved in the IT revolution. “Government has no business in business. I think the privatization of government owned establishments is evidence of the fact that government should not delve into production of goods and services. Cases of government companies that have gone into or almost going into oblivion abound,” he added. A number of analysts disagree, saying that without government intervention and regulation, even owning and running telecom companies, customers will be left aside. “Although Olubiyi may be right in the long run, right now we need the government involved in order to ensure that services are maintained at at least some level of satisfaction,” said Samuel Abide, an IT analyst and former senior advisor at the ministry of communications. BM
