CITAD warns that increasing internet data costs in Nigeria are worsening the digital divide. The recent 50% tariff hike approved by NCC threatens access for underserved communities, impacting education and essential online services. Urgent policy interventions and recognition of community networks are necessary to bridge this gap and empower local communities.
The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has expressed grave concerns regarding the rising costs of internet data in Nigeria, indicating that such increases are likely to exacerbate the nation’s already significant digital divide. CITAD argues that many underserved communities will struggle to access crucial online services as data prices rise, thereby marginalizing their status further.
Haruna Adamu Hadeija, Coordinator of Community Network at CITAD, delivered this message during a press briefing at the organization’s Kano office. He underscored the significant repercussions of escalating data costs, particularly for impoverished communities. The recent 50% tariff increase on data, calls, and SMS authorized by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has made it challenging for already disadvantaged communities to access the internet effectively.
Hadeija remarked, “Now that data charges have been jerked up by 50%, students and parents in underserved areas have to ‘dearly’ pay to enable their children to learn online.” He continued, noting that this surge in costs not only amplifies the existing connectivity gap but also hinders the digital empowerment of millions of Nigerians. Despite progress in expanding internet access, a report from the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) highlights that approximately 27.91 million individuals across 97 underserved communities remain without internet access.
The lack of connectivity profoundly affects students, youth, and women, especially in rural regions. Hadeija pointed out, “In regions where internet access is absent, parents must send their children far from home just to register for computer-based tests, conduct exams, and check their results. It is unfair that many communities are left behind because they cannot afford internet services.”
CITAD’s coordinator called for immediate policy measures to mitigate the widening digital divide, urging the Minister for Digital Economy to officially acknowledge community networks as crucial connectivity partners. He stated, “We urge the USPF to support local communities with grants to deploy their own connectivity initiatives. These community networks are not competitors to Mobile Network Operators (MNOs); they are complementary solutions to bridge the existing connectivity gap,” emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts.
Additionally, CITAD advocates for capacity-building initiatives that will empower local communities to mobilize resources and enhance sustainability, thereby fostering self-sufficient, community-centered networks.
In summary, the rising costs of internet data in Nigeria threaten to exacerbate the existing connectivity gap, particularly impacting underserved communities. CITAD has called for urgent policy interventions to address this issue, emphasizing the importance of community networks and the need for capacity-building initiatives to foster local connectivity solutions. Without such measures, the digital divide will likely continue to widen, disenfranchising significant segments of the population.
Original Source: dailypost.ng
