‘Galaxy needs N35bn for internet across MDAs’

The Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone (GBB), Prof. Mohammad Abubakar, has said N35 billion is required for effective internet service at 2 megabytes per second (mbps) for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the federal government.

He said this on Thursday in Abuja when the joint Committee of the National Assembly on Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) and Cyber-security visited the GBB on oversight.

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According to him, the National Assembly should make laws that will enable the agency to compete with other business outfits that provide the same services with them.

“To provide connectivity services at a minimum broadband speed of 2mbps to all MDAs nationwide as mandated, funding in excess of 35 billion naira will be required, while more than 200 billion naira will be required for broadband connectivity at National Broadband Plan (NBP) recommended speed.”

He however noted that bureaucracy had hindered the firm from competing with private firms despite its sophisticated equipment.

The co-chairmen of the joint committee, Senator Yakubu Useni and Hon. Abubakar Lado in a joint statement said: “What we have seen today has corrected lots of the misconceptions we initially had about the operations of Galaxy Backbone. With the revelations coming out of this oversight exercise, we all need to play as a matter of urgency in ensuring that Galaxy Backbone is supported financially in making this dream a reality.”