NIG Calls for Privatisation of Nigcomsat, Galaxy Backbone
- By Lawson Ovih
- Published June 22nd, 2010
- ITWorld
- Unrated
ENGINEER Lanre Ajayi, president of the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), has advocated the privatization of Nigcomsat Limited and Galaxy Backbone, both organizations of the federal Government vested with the provision of IT infrastructure in the country.
Ajayi, who made this known at last week’s Wimax Forum, organised by Telecom Answers Associates in Lagos, stated that for Nigeria to achieve the desired growth in information communication technology (ICT), government must be disentangled from participating in the provision of telecom services like is presently being done by Nigcomsat and Galaxy Backbone. He said it is very imperative that government should stop involving itself in businesses that ought to be carried out by indigenous entrepreneurs in the country. This, he said, will encourage innovation in the delivery of services.
“Government has no business doing business, and it is time these two organisations are privatized since they indulge in activities which smaller companies should be doing,” he said. “How can the young companies grow when they are being strangled by government’s companies who also provide regulatory policies.”
Ajayi noted that government should provide a level playing ground for small operators to survive, as survey has shown that indigenous telecom companies are finding it difficult to do business, especially in an environment where power is non-existence. “The power situation has posed an additional burden for companies in the country, as they are forced to spend huge resources in putting their businesses together,” he said and called on the federal government to address this issue which is killing Internet Service Providers (ISPs)in the country.
Ajayi, who made this known at last week’s Wimax Forum, organised by Telecom Answers Associates in Lagos, stated that for Nigeria to achieve the desired growth in information communication technology (ICT), government must be disentangled from participating in the provision of telecom services like is presently being done by Nigcomsat and Galaxy Backbone. He said it is very imperative that government should stop involving itself in businesses that ought to be carried out by indigenous entrepreneurs in the country. This, he said, will encourage innovation in the delivery of services.
“Government has no business doing business, and it is time these two organisations are privatized since they indulge in activities which smaller companies should be doing,” he said. “How can the young companies grow when they are being strangled by government’s companies who also provide regulatory policies.”
Ajayi noted that government should provide a level playing ground for small operators to survive, as survey has shown that indigenous telecom companies are finding it difficult to do business, especially in an environment where power is non-existence. “The power situation has posed an additional burden for companies in the country, as they are forced to spend huge resources in putting their businesses together,” he said and called on the federal government to address this issue which is killing Internet Service Providers (ISPs)in the country.
