Fijabi, other Reps meet in Ibadan, tackle recession

The Chairman, House Committee on Telecommunication, Honourable Saheed Akinade-Fijabi has said the contribution of telecommunications could facilitate the nation’s exit from its current economic challenges, if fully explored.

Fijabi disclosed this at the 1st Annual Retreat of the House of Representatives Committee on Telecommunications held at Carlton Gate Exclusive Hotel, Ibadan.

Fijabi, a member of the House of Representatives, representing Ibadan South West/North West Federal Constituency area of Oyo State, said the communications industry was a viable and sustainable means of generating revenue for any country.

He explained the motive  behind the retreat with the theme: Telecommunications operations in Nigeria, would help members of the committee to identify and examine the impact of the fundamentals, trends and challenges of the sector to enable them enact laws would will transform the industry to meet international standards.

“There is tremendous increase in telecommunication subscribers from 142 million as at August 2015 to 152 million in August 2016, which is a 5.9 per cent increase .

“The economic draught is as a result of the fall in oil prices, and a candid result of overdependence on crude oil resources as an economic mainstay. The current administration emphasises on economic diversification as one of its major polices. The communication sector is, no doubt, viable and sustainable means of revenue generation for any country.

“The House of Representatives is undoubtedly committed to exercising its supervisory powers granted by the constitution and ensuring that all government agencies and parastatals, including the communication sector maximise their potentials.”

Meanwhile, Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has said the telecoms industry was one of the key drivers of the nation’s economy, just as he called for full exploitation of its potentials.

Represented by his Special Adviser on Information and Communication Technology (ICT), at the retreat, Mr Niyi Ajao, the governor the state was looking at ICT as a key driver of the state’s economy.

He said the state would soon establish an ICT hub, where it intended to create 20,000 knowledge-driven jobs.

“We have over 400,000 students in Oyo State. We have 2,138 primary schools and 630 secondary schools out of which only 30 schools benefit from ICT.

“We have been able to transform the state economy through ICT, having embraced ICT in carrying out and monitoring the state’s daily activities,” he said.