Nigeria’s federal government has stated interest in developing a local national holistic ICT plan yesterday. The government promised that following the aggregation of comments and suggestions on the draft Information and Communication Technology policy have been discussed, they would embark on the process.

Arrangement has however been concluded by the Ministry of Communication Technology to hold a stakeholder’s forum on the country’s draft ICT policy in March in Lagos.

According to the ministry’s statement, since unveiling policy, it has received suggestions, comments and inputs from various industry groups, ICT companies and other ICT industry stakeholders home and abroad.

The collated comments and suggestions and the forum will be expected to provide a veritable platform for the ministry to engage stakeholders in robust discussions on the suggestions and comments received regarding the policy.

The ministry, ahead of the March stakeholder’s forum, met with industry associations a few weeks ago such as the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria, Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria, Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria, Nigerian Computer Society, Information Technology Association of Nigeria, Nigeria Internet Group, Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria and the National Association Telecoms Subscribers.

The statement also revealed associations sent their inputs through on the draft ICT policy to discuss the comments and suggestions on the policy sent to the ministry by the associations.

Omobola Johnson, Minister of Communication Technology, recently said the ministry set up a committee to harmonise the existing policies, reflect new realities where necessary in order to provide a working document and a take off point that could elicit robust debate and discussion by stakeholders.

She further commented that the country had various policies covering the IT and the communications industry, adding that the alliance of technologies and the industry have impose on us the need for an integrated policy document.

Segun Adekoye