Smart cities: There must be public, private sectors synergy—Danbatta

The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, has called for alignment of synergy between the public and private sectors with a view to attaining the goal of smart cities in Nigeria. in Abuja

Danbatta made the call at a conference tagged Smart Cities Nigeria, with the theme Building Innovative Public Private Partnerships for Achieving Nigerian Smart Cities Vision,   organised by the Federal Ministry of Communications.

“To ensure the deployment of required infrastructure towards meeting the National Broadband Plan as well as building the foundation for smart cities in Nigeria, there is the need for partnerships and collaborations between the public and private sectors.”

According to Danbatta, the partnerships is aimed at aligning the government’s objectives of driving pervasive broadband infrastructure for socio-economic development in the country and the objective of private sector for business opportunities.

“This alignment of objectives requires innovative funding and financing mechanism, as well as incentives that will provide the required impetus for private sector to champion the attainment of smart cities in Nigeria,” he noted.

He, however, observed that the government’s role of providing clear policy and regulatory frameworks needs to be translated to concentrate actions in terms of articulating a clear road-map, implementation plan and coordination mechanism towards the attainment of relevant stakeholders’ objectives.

Speaking further, Danbatta said “Internet of Things (IOT) is the next big thing in the evolution of the information and communications Technology space, stressing that IOT is a key aspect of smart cities that Nigeria aimed to achieve.

He listed areas in need of special attention as expansion of required ICT infrastructure in the proposed smart cities, addressing power supply challenges, high right of way charges, multiple taxation and regulation, among others.