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Telecommunications in Nigeria

(Dr. G.A. Alabi)


1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON NIGERIA
The Federal Republic of Nigeria is a tropical country on the West African Coast along
the Gulf of Guinea, with the Republic of Benin to the West , Niger to the North, Chad
to the North-East and Cameroon to the East and South-East.
The climate is tropical. In the South, the average annual temperature is about 32 oc,
with high humidity and the average annual rainfall above 3,800mm in parts of the
South-East. It is drier and semi-tropical in the North, and the average annual rainfall
may be as low as 625mm.
Nigeria covers an area of some 923,769 sq.km, and situated between latitudes 4 o and
14oN of the equator. In some parts of the country, latitude tends to modify the high
humid and hot temperature associated with tropical rain-forest regions.
The vegetation ranges from rain forest in the south, through deciduous forest to
grasslands dotted with shrubs which finally shades into the dry desert regions. Within
the past few decades, desert encroachment has threatened human and cattle life in the
northern - most parts of the country. The southern part is characterised by undulating
hills, occasionally rising to as high as 3000 to 5,000 meters in some places. The
northern part shows the same features but rising to a plateau in the centre and northeastern part of the country to about 8,000 metres above sea level.
The two major rivers transversing the country are Rivers Niger and Benue, in a
confluence at Lokoja, from where they flow through a series of creeks in the delta
region into the Atlantic Ocean. Other inland drainage areas and important rivers are
Cross-River, Imo River, Kaduna River, and Lake Chad.
1.1.1 Demographic and Cultural Diversity
The peoples of Nigeria are many and varied. They include the Fulanis, the Yorubas,
Hausas, Igbos and a large number of Northern and Southern ethnic groups. These
variations have combined to produce a very rich admixture of cultures and art, which
form the heritage of modern Nigeria.

The Nigeria census in 1963 recorded a total of 55.670.055. There was another census
in 1973, but the results were never published. In 1984, the population of Nigeria was
officially estimated at over 94 million. Nigeria's population today is put at about
100,000,000 on a land mass of approximately 930,000sq. kms. It is a Federation of
thirty states and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. The climatic conditions range
from wet and humid in the South to dry and hot in the North.
There have been suggestions that more than 45% of the Nigerian populace are under
20 years old and are still of school going age. This has put a lot of pressure on the
educational systems of the country, and eventually on the labour market. The
economy is therefore being planned to grow fast enough to provide jobs for the many
school leavers annually.
Furthermore, the rural-to-urban migration has been found to be growing daily and
thus creating unprecedented problems of health and housing, transportation, law and
order. This puts a lot of pressures on the delivery systems for these social services. In
spite of this, majority of Nigerians still live in rural areas, living on subsistence
farming, trading, rural industries, and crafts.
1.1.2 Some Telecommunication Information on Nigeria
The total number of subscribers to telephone lines as at the end of December 1986
was put at around 230,000 while Telex subscribers were only 5,300 in number. Total
installed capacity for telephone then was 320,834 and telex 11,577. The percentage
utilisation for telephone therefore was 71.6 per cent while telex was approximately
45.7 per cent. However, modernity in telecommunications has provided facilities that
make for new class of service, improved revenue generation with properly reviewed
tariff policy. Now, in 1996, the country has almost 1,000,000 subscribers to telephone
lines all of which are handled by standard A antennae facing both the Indian and the
Atlantic Ocean Regions installed at four (4 NO.) different geographical locations
across the country. Nigeria operates a Domestic Satellite System by leasing three (3
No.) transponders from INTELSAT which are accessed by nineteen (19 No.) Standard
B earth stations in some state capitals of the Federation. There is a Territorial Manager
responsible for Telecommunications Administration in each state except Lagos state
where because of the relatively large number of switching centres and subscribers in
the metropolis, it was considered prudent to have at least two (2No.) Territorial
managers.
Nigeria embraced Digital Technology since the 1980s with the introduction of Digital
Switches and Transmission Systems (Radio and Optic fibre) into the network. Since
the beginning of the 90s, Mobile Telephone Services (Cellular), Paging and Electronic
Mail have also been part of the services offered by NITEL (Nigerian

Telecommunications Plc). NITEL now has an X.25 and X.40 switching facilities in its
network. Today however, to a population of One hundred million (100m), the figure
of more than half a million telephone lines in the country means in effect, a very low
telephone density ratio; though the country has the largest number of telephones in
any one country in Africa.
1.1.3 Economic and Socio-Political Climate of Nigeria
The importance of communication in any country whether developed or developing is
so obvious. In fact the inter-relationship between the economic development of a
country and effective telecommunication services is so interwoven that it is difficult to
tell which one comes first. Suffice it to say however, that most developed nations have
the more developed telecommunications infrastructures and services. While the
inhabitants of the developed world look forward to enjoying the full benefits of the socalled "Information Society" by the year 2000, the situation in the developing world is
the opposite. For example, it is well known that the city of Tokyo has more telephones
than the whole of the continent of Africa with a population of 500 million.
This type of disparity, coupled with the interest of common humanity, led the
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to seek ways and means of not only
bridging the gap but also enabling humanity, as a whole, to cooperate towards a
common goal of telecommunications service within easy reach of all people at the
turn of the century. One of these ITU efforts (2) culminated in the Resolution (No.20)
adopted by the Plenipotentiary Conference of ITU in Nairobi, 1982, which called for
the establishment of "an International Commission for worldwide telecommunications
development.
The Resolution mandated the Commission, inter alia, "to recommend a range of
methods including novel ones for stimulating telecommunications development in the
developing world using appropriate and proven technologies in ways which would:
a) serve the mutual interest of governments, operating companies, the public and
specialised user groups in the developing world and of the public and private sectors
in the developed world; and
b) lead to progressive achievement of self-reliance in the developing world and the
narrowing of the gap between the developing and developed countries".
The Independent Commission for Worldwide Telecommunications Development,
which was set up, eventually submitted its report, titled the "Missing Link" which is
famous for its contents and recommendations on world telecommunications
development especially in the developing world.(3) The ITU felt it necessary that after

the submission of the report, a World Telecommunications Development Conference


should be held to go through it.
This Conference (4) was held and brought together Members of the Union at
ministerial level to study and exchange views on the many aspects of the report of the
Independent commission that had national government policy implications. This was
the first Conference of its kind and it reflected the importance that the ITU gives to
telecommunications development particularly in the developing countries.
The Conference adopted on 30th May, 1985 the Arusha Declaration which, in many
ways, was expected to help in the bridging of the telecommunications gap, if
conscientiously implemented.
In addition to the Arusha Declaration, it is pertinent to also recall the Lagos Plan of
Action for the Economic Development of Africa which incorporated in its programme
of action, the Transport and communications Decade for Africa which aimed at
rapidly developing the transport and communications infrastructure of the continent to
respond to the political, economic and social aspirations of the continent.
Furthermore, an Africa Telecommunications Development Conference was also
organised by ITU on behalf of the Panaftel Coordinating Committee, in Tunis,
Tunisia, from January 12 to 16, 1987. It dealt with various aspects of
telecommunications development plans in Africa.(5)
In the pre-colonial days, Nigerians lived under political systems with varying degrees
of sophistication in terms of organisation and management of their own affairs.
In 1960, Nigeria became an independent country. Since independence, Nigeria as a
nation has experienced frequent political changes. It has had eleven governments of
which seven have been military and four civilian. Presently, Nigeria is having a
military government.
The colonial infrastructures vis-a-vis roads, railways, telecommunication, system of
administration, language and common rules of commerce, educational institutions and
colonial townships-have al helped to rub the rural Nigerians of their tribal nature and
made them available for the development of the new nation.
Urban areas have continued to grow and telecommunication facilities are increasing at
a tremendous rate; educational institutions are growing and attracting more and more
young people to come into contact with one another. Associations and other
professional bodies are recruiting membership on the basis of achievements. All these
augur well for a nation in the making.

Economic development during the colonial era, under the British, supported the
production of raw materials and tropical products like palm-oil, palm-kernel, rubber,
cocoa, groundnut, groundnut oil, and timber, and also minerals for export.
Since the discovery of oil in 1970, oil has come to dominate the whole economy and
trade of Nigeria.
In the Second Development Plan 1970-74, the role of the government was reviewed
and stated explicitly. The rationale for the government role in the economy was stated
as follows:
..."that progress would be faster, if the nation is motivated in its economic activity by
a common sound purpose. Effective coordination ..... easier when they all subscribe to
a common goal and operate under a common impetus(1).
For a long time, the influence of the government in the economy has been all
pervading, not restricted to the traditional areas of providing infrastructural support,
law and order, but has made direct investments via its numerous publicly owned
corporations, companies and joint ventures in the direct production of some goods.
The foundation of the modern economy of Nigeria was laid during the implementation
of the 2nd Development Plan. The 3rd Development Plan 1975 - 1980 adopted the
objectives of the 2nd Plan and also adopted the following implementing and
measurable objectives:
i) Increase in per capita income
ii) More even distribution income
iii) Reduction in the level of unemployment
iv) Increase in the supply of high level manpower
v) diversification of the economy
vi) Balanced diet
vii) Indigenization of economic activity
The third plan was aided by OPEC and sustained favourable balance of payments
positions, then.

The execution of the 3rd Development Plan recorded significant achievement in


various fields of the economy. But due to some operational problems and many other
reasons, the performance fell short of the high expectations prevailing at the outset of
the plan.
With the introduction of the 4th Development Plan which coincided with the return of
the civilian rule under a new Presidential type constitution, almost immediately the oil
prices and demand started to fall and the expected revenue declined.
With the introduction of SAP (Structural Adjustment Programme) in 1986, as
compared with the pre-early 1980s there was renewed interest in making use of local
technological resources with increased local sourcing of industrial raw materials. The
increased renewed interest was due to some factors which included political interest in
self-reliance and the need of finding production techniques more appropriate to
distributional and employment objectives. SAP, though increased the local sourcing of
industrial raw materials in Nigeria, has not contributed significantly to the
technological development of the country mainly because of the increased local cost
of importing those inputs that cannot yet be produced locally. One major problem is
the shortage of machinery and spare parts, since very limited capacity exist in Nigeria
for local fabrication of the simplest machine, and equipment with the result that even
the machine designed or adapted by research institutes were hardly commercialised.
Inadequate or ineffective dissemination and use of information is assumed to be
responsible for the slow pace of industrial development in Nigeria. For rapid
industrialization, dissemination of usable research findings to industrialists in the
language and format they understand is one major factor. The inability of the
publication and utilization of research findings has also resulted in a considerable
proportion of researchers carrying out activities which have very little or no relevance
to science and technology and industrial developments.
1.1.4 ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS AND THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS
SYSTEM
While the existence of information does not necessarily ensure its use, the real value
of an information system lies in the servicing of specific user needs. In order to solve
this problem, and hoist the country on the path of greater technological and overall
socio-economic development as well as create a new lease of life for the citizenry, a
planned increase in penetration of telecommunications services has been seen as a
welcome development for national growth.
Every human society, from the most primitive to the most advanced, depends on some
form of telecommunications network. It will be virtually impossible for any group of

people to define their collective identities or make decisions about their common and
binding interests, without communications. Communication networks make society a
reality.
It makes it possible for people to cooperate, to produce and exchange commodities, to
share ideas and information and to assist one another in times of need.
Indeed, every facet of the basic rights is dependent on telecommunication. Such basic
rights of the individual as the right to life, the right to personal liberty and dignity, the
right to free expression and information and the right to free movement, all of which
enhance the quality of life of the individual, are facilitated by telecommunications.
Electronic Communications involve the process by which messages are sent across
the globe through the use of the computer, telephone line and a modem. Unlike the fax
system which allows one page of text to be transmitted at a time, electronic
communication facility allows several pages to be processed off-line and through a
single dialling, it allows these several pages of messages to be transmitted to a
gateway where they can be distributed to their various destinations.
Furthermore, electronic communication involves any of several forms of information
exchange between two or more computers through any of several methods of
interconnection such as telephone line, optical fibre, satellite or radio. This
communication mode is rapidly spreading throughout the world as a fast, reliable and
in most applications, an inexpensive form of communication. It is fast and
inexpensive because it can use existing public telephone lines, a dedicated (leased)
line or via microwave radio frequency.
The foregoing is indicative of the requirements necessary to induce a meaningful
development of telecommunications infrastructure in Africa.
1.1.5 The Geopolitical Structrue of NITEL
This section of this report examines geopolitical structure and policy phasing and its
implications on the pursuit of profit and social services objectives including national
interest and unit within the framework of telecommunications policy in Nigeria.
Geopolitics in its generic sense attempts to explain world political developments in
terms of geographic space. It emphasizes fact of physical and economic geography
seen either as opportunities or limitations in the pursuit of specific goals and
objectives.
The geopolitical structure and policy phasing is also well demarcated when we
examine the functions and roles of which the Nigerian Telecommunications (NITEL)

was set up. NITEL was established to provide efficient telecommunications services
to all parts of the Federation and to link Nigeria with all parts of the world with
emphasis on those countries maintaining strong economic and political relations with
Nigeria. In its external services, it was also mandated to give priority to the Economic
Community of West African States (ECOWAS) sub-region and other independent
African States as a reflection of Nigeria's foreign policy.
On domestic telecommunications services and the implications of pursuing multiple
objectives, i.e. socio-political and economic policies on the operations of NITEL, the
enormous difficulties in evolving and implementing telecommunications policies and
programmes in Nigeria became apparent when consideration is given to the large size
and regional distribution of the country's population and the structure of the country's
rural settlements. An effective coverage of all parts of the Federation in the supply of
telecommunications services depended on resource availability and effective planning
and co-ordination of the systems network as well as efficient management and
technical operations. Telecommunications is a capital intensive industry. However,
with resource constraints, a phased approach to network expansion was adopted. This
called for sound investment decisions, technological and management innovations,
operational and financial efficiency and generation of profits sufficient enough to
efficiently maintain and expand telecommunications services to all parts of the
Federation.
Prior to 1985, the internal and external telecommunications services were provided
and managed by two distinct organisations, namely the Posts and Telecommunications
Department, for internal services and the Nigerian External Telecommunications Ltd
for external services. This situation was fraught with problems. The Posts and
Telecommunications Department consisted of two dissimilar businesses with different
operating objectives and environments. The Postal Service was essentially social in
outlook. As telecommunications on the whole is a commercial operation, there were
difficulties in the management of these two services to the detriment of the public
interest of having good communications facilities. Further, the existence of separate
organisations for the management of the internal and external telecommunications
networks did not augur well for efficient national telecommunications network
because of lack of co-ordination that existed between the two operating entities in
development planning, project phasing, implementation, operation, maintenance and
billing. This separate existence of the operating entities often resulted in duplication in
investment with consequential heavy demand on scarce national financial and human
resources for telecommunication development. It also affected the promotion of cross
subsidisation from the more lucrative international sector to the not-so-lucrative
domestic sector which was beset with problems arising from logistics and
maintenance due to, among other things equipment spread.

Organisational problems were not the only one that retarded telecommunication
development efforts in Nigeria. Others including the following, deserve special
mention:
a) The planned objective could not always be achieved due mainly to shortage of
funds, inadequate executive technical manpower and uncoordinated project
management.
b) Rapid advancement in technology is making the procurement of spare parts for
maintenance of existing systems a costly undertaking as these were then obtainable
from fewer sources than before.
c) Lack of equipment standardisation which created problems of spare parts stocking.
d) The inadequacy of the tariff, at times, has made generation of revenue to cater for
recurrent capital expenditure and future development difficult.
e) Lack of future plan, information and needs from local government areas.
f) Lack of co-ordination of infrastructural planning.
(g) Poorly defined and discontinuous policies on national development plans.
The net effect of these problems was constant failure to attain planned targets and
poor performance of the telecommunications undertaking in the country.
It is pertinent, however, to point out that these problems are being tackled within the
limits of the authority and resources of the new organisation, NITEL. For example,
plans have been completed to start the establishment of standards for equipment
operation and architecture, while at the same time the tariff is being reviewed to
reflect the reality of the present-day operational costs. The NITEL organisation is such
that it is now very easy to contact local government areas for information about their
development plans where these exist. Also, efforts are being made to follow up
equipment standardisation with local manufacture of telecommunications equipment.
In fact, the centralisation of the control of the international and domestic services has
led to an improvement in the operation and maintenance of the national network and
the situation is such that NITEL is now able to pay all salaries from its earnings.
Telecommunications is both dynamic and capital intensive and in view of its catalystic
effect on the development of other sectors of the economy such as agriculture, health,
tourism and education and its necessity for the commercial, industrial, socio-economic
and political development of the country, the need for an orderly and efficient

development of telecommunications infrastructure in Nigeria has now been found


more urgent in order to keep pace with the development of the other sectors of the
economy.
The overall national objective on telecommunications may be stated in general terms
as the provision of modern, efficient, reliable and adequate telecommunications
services in the country subject to the constraints of available resources. In addition to
the overall national objective, there are several sub-objectives which deal with
specific aspects of telecommunications such as types of services to be provided,
quality or service, operational and equipment standards, etc. These objectives have
often led to a set of policies within the framework of the national policy.
At the national level, the general objectives are; to promote an orderly and efficient
development of telecommunications, and to promote the provision of efficient public
telecommunication services in Nigeria. In the fulfilment of these objectives, decisions
have been taken on certain issues, some of which are:Legislation of Telecommunications;
Role of Government;
Rights of Citizens;
Competitions and Monopoly;
National Security, etc.
1.2 The Nigerian Society and the Information Sector
In some of the present thirty states in Nigeria, the proportion of rural urban dwellers is
estimated at over 75% but, generally, Nigeria claims an average of about 70%. Some
80% of these inhabitants are engaged in agriculture and other extractive subsectors,
that is, nearly three-fifths of the total population are engaged in the primary activities
of growing food (and mining).
Significantly, the agriculture sector in the United States of America employed 44% of
that country's population some 100 years ago, but only 2% of the population is today
engaged in feeding the entire nation (and exporting food also). A two -sector
aggregation of the same American labour force data translates to 92% of all USA
workers engaged in non-information activities in 1880, and 8% in the information
sector. Today, the population engaged in the information sector is about equal to that
in all the other sectors put together, that is about 50%.

Similar changes are reported in other industrialised societies, as in Europe. These


countries are said to have arrived at the Information Age or the Post-industrial Age,
which is assumed generally to have begun in the 1960's with the discovery of the
transistor.
The information Society is characterised by certain relevant dimensions, including:
the change from a goods producing to a service society;
the centrality of theory in technological innovations (as against intuitive inventiveness
and craft); and
the application of decision rules in place of intuitive judgements, as in modern
management of systems (analysis), organisations and enterprises.
Subsequent sections of this report examine the ways information and communication
are being introduced into the economic and social development of the country.
1.3 Telecommunications and Economic Development: Challenges and Opportunities.
Telecommunications are a key infrastructure of economic and social development for
the second half of the 21st century. They provide, as facilitator, an enabling condition
for carrying on the dominant pursuits of the modern day, namely, of the Information
Age. Two types of information business can be identified: the first is associated
information, such as derives from the need to transact businesses related to the
primary and secondary occupations of extracting (agriculture and mining) and
manufacturing. The second is a commodity that is based on information and
knowledge.
During the first 50 or so years of the telephone, it was devoted to serving the needs of
the traditional economic (and social) sectors, for moving goods from source to
consumer. The objective of development in switched or two-way telecommunications
was almost entirely the universal penetration of the Plain Old Telephone (POT). The
telephone was invaluable for carrying out voice communication over short and long
distances. In this circumstance, it was not the agricultural and mining sectors of the
economy that called for the most use of the POT but, rather, the manufacturing,
distributive and management subsectors.
Where manufacturing is weak, however, as with rural communities and most thirdworld nations, the penetration of the ordinary voice telephone was expectedly low.

It is clear that the African countries are grossly underwired and their
telecommunications facilities quite clearly underdeveloped. An analysis, showing the
correlation between national GDP and telephone density revealed the link between
economic affluence and the penetration of telecommunications. It is only of academic
interest as claimed by Maduka whether it is affluence that came before the telephone
or it is the telephone that created the affluence. By treating telecommunications as an
infrastructure, the notion is that wealth and affluence can thereby be enhanced, but a
quick evaluation of the cost of the telephone line shows that it probably requires an
affluent economy to pay for the minimum UN recommended telephone density, of one
line per 100 inhabitants. Today, the Nigerian statistic is about 0.66 lines per 100
inhabitants. A combination of the latest census figure and the drastic devaluation of
the Nigerian currency (Naira) value is naturally of considerable interest and
interpretation to different professionals and scholars.
In the Information Society, information is also a stand-alone commodity, not merely
associated with primary or industrial production, but essentially with services,
including communication itself. The range of these services includes messengering,
broadcasting, advertising, news services, databases, financial and several other
professional services. The computer falls in the centre of this rapidly developing
information business and the countries which have attained this tertiary or information
stage of occupation have large telephone densities. At this point in time, it would be
difficult to try to identify a threshold for this stage to be attained. Workers in this stage
are finding the POT rather inadequate for the high demands which they now place on
telecommunications. They need to be freed from the short cable or leash on the
telephone instrument, hence the cordless phone; they have to be reached anywhere
(mobile), they manage their time critically (voice/electronic mail) and the need to
access large masses of data at high speed, for decision-making in the highly
competitive world of modern global business.
1.4 TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY
1.4.1 Background Information
Technology development refers to the translation of research results into goods and
services as well as improvement on existing technologies based on cost and effective
evaluation.
Science and Technology have become critical factors of economic and social
development. Through their application, it has become possible to harness the forces
of nature and to transform the raw material resources with which nature endows man
into goods and services for better quality of life. Indeed, the extent to which a nation
is committed to this awareness and integrates science and technology practice into the

socio-cultural activities of its people marks the difference between developed,


developing and under-developed nations. The developed world has attained
technological sophistry, by exploiting science and technology to create wealth, save
human energy and provide technical services. A country like Japan which has very
little natural resources but depends on importation of raw materials from other
countries has, through efficient application of science and technology transformed
these materials into goods and services and now dominate world markets. On the
other hand, the developing countries have economies which are very dependent on the
industrialised world, because they have not on their own been able to adequately use
science and technology to exploit their natural resources. They possess abundant
resources but lack adequate scientific and technological know-how to transform them
into goods and services.
1.4.2 The Status of S & T in Nigeria
Nigeria is a developing country, yet on the threshold of industrialisation. The
industrial and service sector is still heavily dependent on importation of machinery
from overseas countries to keep the wheels of industry going.
The maintenance of these machines, in most cases, is also provided by external
experts. This situation is also very true for the telecommunications sector.
Telecommunications development in Nigeria so far is wholly dependent on foreign
technologies. In most cases, investment by multinationals has meant a mere relocation
of facilities without the transfer of ability to innovate since all the elements of
technology required to make telecommunication succeed are most often transferred in
a package. The main constraint to rapid telecommunications development in Nigeria
has therefore been attributed to lack of science and technology capacity for:
i) plant construction and installation;
ii) fabrication of plant and machinery;
iii) technical and managerial activities;
iv) operation and maintenance of facilities.
The transfer of the above elements in a package has reverted Nigeria from utilising
local resources for some of them or developing new competence in other critical
areas. Another constraint to telecommunications development in Nigeria is the
inadequacy of science and technology infrastructure including S & T Manpower, S &
T Information, engineering services, materials, instruments and apparatus for training
scientists and technologists in telecommunications. Limited dissemination and

utilization of research results in telecommunications practice in Nigeria has also been


identified as a definite constraint to telecommunication development. Results of
research in engineering, electronics and solid state physics in the Universities and
Research Institutes are not being fully utilised to develop local capability in
telecommunication services and in maintenance, adaptation and integration of new
equipment with existing ones.
Another major constraint was once identified as obsolete switching and transmission
equipment. Many of the existing exchanges and cable network are obsolete and
therefore liable to frequent breakdowns. The demands on maintenance have been
more tasking due to the technical limitations inherent in the design and difficulties in
obtaining the spares of the equipment which are no longer in production. Also,
another factor that militated against telecommunications development is lack of coordination and proper planning in projects implementation. Poor studies on project
scope and costs resulted in implementation of projects of doubtful economic viability,
in some cases, which were later abandoned midstream involving huge economic
losses.
The problem of maintenance and operation of telecommunications services was later
aggravated by the proliferation of technologies and the lack of technical standards.
Not less than five types of automatic switching equipment are currently in use in the
country. Even within the same city, several types of switching equipment have been
installed. This presents problems in respects of spare parts for maintenance.
Standardisation of network equipment in Nigeria has therefore not yet been totally
achieved and this imposes additional strains by creating inflexibility in the use of
manpower and spare parts.
2.0 TELECOMMUNICATIONS NEEDS, PROBLEMS AND CONSTRAINTS
The long term goal of a telecommunication enterprise is not only to be self-financing
but also to generate a reasonable return on investment. To achieve this goal, there
must be careful consideration of the sources of investment and the conditions that are
attached to them. Its long term interests should always be kept in mind in the choice
of sources of capital which ideally should be diverse and a combination of different
sources.
It is generally believed that the telecommunication enterprise should have a pricing
and tariff policy that is consistent with national objectives set by the government and
the cost of providing the services. It is only normal that returns from some partS of the
network should subsidise shortfalls that may occur in other parts of the network, such
as in the case of rural areas. This norm has always been observed in Nigeria. In
addition, mechanisms are essential for identifying the need for investment projects,

for evaluating them, for predicting accurately what they will cost and for determining
priorities for their execution. Happily enough, the procurement procedures often
embarked upon in Nigeria secure an optimum balance between low initial cost,
reliability and running cost like maintenance and power.
2.1. THE STATE OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE IN
NIGERIA
2.1.1 Research and Development
Since Nigeria's independence on October 1, 1960, up till 1995, only four national
development plans were executed under the Ministry of Communications supervision,
and these plans provided about 400,000 installed direct exchange lines (DEL). In
1992, barely seven years after NITEL (Plc) was established, new technologies electro-magnetic digital, satellite fibre optic, INMARSAT, Integrated Services Digital
Network (ISDN) -were introduced into the national networks. Up till 1989, all the
exchanges and transmission facilities were of analogue system. Nitel has now
successfully introduced the digital system into the network with a total of over
160,000 digital lines since this operation started a couple of years ago. Apart from
providing a number of improved telecommunication facilities to the populace,
Nigerian Telecommunications (NITEL) Plc, has been recently identified as housing
the most suitable computer communications for the use of the South Investment Trade
and Technology Exchange Centre (SITTDEC), a collaboration of the G15 countries
working to facilitate South-South co-operation with its headquarters in KualaLumpur, Malaysia. The Centre's mission is principally to foster and promote
investments, trade and technology in the South countries by providing relevant,
authoritative and accessible information to governments, organisations, corporations
and individuals in the south countries.
The network capacity of NITEL's 450,516 lines in 1991 was increased to 600,000 at
the end of 1992 and to about 1,000,000 at the end of 1995 and it has continued to
grow since.
One of the NITEL's most significant achievements between 1990 and 1993 was that
up to 60% of the total of about N12 billion invested in the provision of the digital
exchanges, transmission links, gateways, and cellular telephone system, was from the
company's internally generated revenue. The first time that NITEL's services were
going wire-less was when the mobile cellular telephone system services were
introduced. The cellular systems introduction into Nigeria was the first of its kind in
Africa, South of the Sahara. Across the country today, about a quarter of the total
number of telephone lines is of the digital system. NITEL's Research and

Development (R & D) which was put in place in 1992 to develop and improve system
components to suit the environment and put NITEL in the fore-front of information
technology, has continued to assist NITEL forge ahead in its operations. In line with
this development, a joint venture agreement to provide data communications services
known as DATANET was negotiated with SATCOM. In 1992, a Rural
Telecommunications programme which it intended to sustain as part of its
contribution to overall national economic growth was also introduced.
More importantly, research and development in NITEL has ben strategically designed
to identify and develop solutions to technical problems as the launching pad for
technological self-reliance and the introduction of new services. The shift of its R&D
efforts from purely theoretical to applied research has now enabled NITEL to design
and fabricate systems that are tailored to Nigeria's environmental conditions.
Collaborative arrangements were also made with Universities and other Research
Institutions. These collaborative efforts led to the design, development and fabrication
of devices and systems on up-to-date technology by NITEL, one of which is the Cable
Theft Alarm Device.
During the first quarter of 1993, the voice mail, the paging system, trunked radio, and
phone card were introduced by NITEL. 15,000 voice mail lines, 100,000 pagers and
trunked radio were provided. The voice mail can be accessed from anywhere in
Nigeria or other countries throughout the world by using the cellular telephone or
touch-tone telephone. For now, there are three kinds of pagers available and only
Lagos and Abuja are within the coverage areas of paging services. This means that
messages can be sent to or from anywhere in the world within these areas. Some of
the advantages of a pager include the freedom of users to go anywhere within the
coverage area and be reached, i.e. a pager
subscriber in Lagos and Abuja can receive messages from anywhere in the world at
any time.
The Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) is another technological feat which
made it possible to employ a range of services via one telephone line. The services
included were electronic mail, video telephone [tele-conferencing], telefax, etc.
NITEL Research and Development [R & D] efforts also supported the evolution of a
maintenance philosophy which enabled NITEL to do away with the services of
contractors in system maintenance. For instance, NITEL staff designed and fabricated
loop converter modules, which used to be imported at higher costs, to meet the
demand for private networks based on leased and Special circuits. The cellular is also
being used by NITEL to provide celluphone

telecommunications services to some local government areas in support of Federal


Government efforts towards rural development.
2.1.2 NETWORK EXPANSION BY NITEL
The network expansion which NITEL embarked upon recently was to add about
510,000 direct exchange lines between 1993 and 1996. This represented more than
100% increase in the network capacity within 4 years. To ensure that all local
government headquarters in the country without telecommunication services are
provided with services, for a start, a number of local government councils in parts of
the nation are now being linked with celluphone by NITEL. The project called
National Telecommunication Improvement Project (NTIP) was to provide additional
74,000 lines. The Nigerian Telecommunications engineers and technicians have
alsoenhanced adaptation of a number of equipment such as the old Pentomat T600
equipment.This has contributed positively to the increase in revenue generated and
also enhanced the performance of this and other equipment.
Prior to May 1992, Nigeria's telephone services were restricted to conventional
telephone and telex/telegram. With the NITEL now a fully commercialized
autonomous company, there is now a tremendous restructuring of the
telecommunications industry in the country and management rationalization for
accelerated telecommunications.
Now, management of telecommunications development in Nigeria is organised at
three hierarchical levels, namely:
Policy developments.
Regulations (by Nigerian Communications Commission established by Decree No. 75
of December 31st, 1992) and
Carriers/operators by Nitel Plc.
NITEL currently provides a variety of other services which include the following:
Private Leased Telephone and Telex Services
Leased Telephone and Telegraph Services
Alternate Voice Data (AVD) Circuit
Data Switching System

Electronic Mail (National Service Only)


X.25 Switch
X.40 Electronic Messages
However, despite the above significant achievements, many users have always
experienced some difficulties with NITEL's facilities.
In essence, the following areas of application have further been identified in the
telecommunication system in Nigeria.
Telephone
Telegraph and Telex
Radio links
Television and phototelegraphic transmission.
The technologies involved in the operation of the services outlined above are hereby
discussed under two major systems: Terrestrial and Satellite.
For terrestrial communication, the technologies involved include Wire-on-Pole, Coaxial Cable and Point to Point Microwave. The Wire-on-Pole system has been found
to be very inadequate in meeting telecommunication needs of the country. Worse still,
unscrupulous elements in the society sometimes disconnect the wire, for conversion to
copper, which is of high market value. This system is also subjected to and destroyed
by severe weather conditions. e.g. heavy rainfall or windstorm or occasionally during
bush burning and felling of trees.
The co-axial cable system was used for the purpose of linking the South to the North
of the country. During the rainy season the cables usually get soaked and performance
level fell to less than 30 per cent. It was therefore discarded because of this
inadequacy. Nigeria is now concentrating on the microwave link. The greatest
disadvantage of this technology, however, is that it requires so many links because of
the earth's curvature. Therefore, it requires so many repeater stations which are
located in the bush usually in isolated areas and with isolated power generating units.
These are very expensive and are also exposed to damage, thereby increasing the cost
due to frequent changes.

3.0. TYPES OF DATA COMMUNICATION FACILITIES AT NITEL AND IN


SOME NCC REGISTERED ORGANISATIONS
At the National Communications Commission (NCC), it was observed that, as of
1993, just about forty (40) private telecommunications operators were licensed by the
Commission. However, because of the awareness of the use of telecommunications
for development, more than 250 companies have now been licensed as at the end of
December 1995 while not less than 1000 prospective applicants have collected
application forms at 1,000.00 (One thousand naira) each, waiting to be licensed to
carry out one telecommunication activity or the other.
The activities for which these private companies are applying, are grouped under:
1. Sale and installation of high calibre terminal equipment such as Satellites, High
Frequency (HF) Radio facilities.
2. Operation of Payphones
3. Sale and installation of Mobile Communication such as:
a. Cellular
b. Paging
c. Voice mail, etc
4. Provision of Community Telecommunications' with
Exchanges.
5. Provision of Value-Added Network Services
6. Repair and Maintenance of Telecommunications Facilities.
7. Cabling.
From the above general operations, the following specific services were identified as
currently being offered by the Nigerian Telecommunications (NITEL) PLC and some
agencies providing similar services: These services include:
i) Telephone Services
* Telephone

* Telephone with IDD


* Public Payphone
* Call Office and Public Counter Services
* Operator Assistance
* Operator Information Services
ii) Telex Services
* Internal Telex
* International Telex
* Telex Delivery Services (TDS)
* Gentex Service
iii) Telegraph Services
* Telegraph (Internal)
* International Telegraph
* Registered Telegraph Address (RTA)
* Phonogram
* Telemessages
iv) Specialised Services
* Leased Circuits
* Private Wire
* Alternate Voice Data Circuits
* Private/Limited Networks
* Transmission and Reception of Real Time Television for Network Programmes

v) Value-Added Services
* Cellular Mobile Telephone
* Voice Mail
* Trunked Radio
* Paging
vi) Other Services
* Voice Cast and Press Reception
* NIFAX Service
* Television Standard Conversion
* International Mobile Satellite Communication (INMARSAT)
* Telecommunications Training Facilities
* Compatibility Tests
* Calibration
vii) Data switching System (New Services)
* Electronic Mail (National Service Only)
* Press Reception and Broadcast
* Word/Data Processing
* X.25 Switch
* X.40 Electronic Messages
* Teleconferencing
* Air traffic Sub-system
* International and Local Card Payphone

* International Transit
viii) Biznet
ix) Hardware
* Cable Theft Security Devices
* Digital PABX
* Manhole Water Detector
* TV Antenna
With the above being the specific telecommunication activities, the next step discusses
the media for the operation of the services. Thes services are usually carried out
through:
Satellite
Leased Lines
Radio (HF or VHF)
Dial-up
The country started embracing Digital Technology since the 1980s with the
introduction of Digital Switches and Transmission Systems (Radio and Optic fibre)
into the telecommunications network. Since the beginning of the 90s, Mobile
Telephone Services (Cellular), Paging and Electronic Mail have been part of the
services offered by NITEL which, hitherto enjoyed the monopoly of
Telecommunications services provisions, operations and maintenance until 1992,
when a decree establishing the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC),
liberalised terminal ends equipment and value added services for competition and
private sector participation.
In order to carry out the above services the following facilities currently exist in the
country:
* INTELSAT leased global transborder channels.
* INMARSAT Satellite Access.

* 34 Kbps NITEL wide and digital microwave


Lagos - Ijebu-Ode - Benin - Abuja
Lagos - Ijebu-Ode - Benin - Onitsha - Enugu
* 140 Kbps broad band NNPC optical cable and digital microwave
Lagos - Benin - Warri
Lagos - Benin - Lokoja - Kaduna
* Extensive NITEL Analogue nationwide circuits. (See Figures 1 and 2)
Listed below are the various media through which some of the telecommunications
facilities are delivered to the populace in the country. These include those services that
are provided by NITEL as well as those that are commercially available on a large
scale basis. They include:
1. Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) Services
VSAT is a technology which enables the extension of domestic networks across a
large national land mass as well as across national frontiers. VSAT systems integrate
transmission and switching functions to implement pre-assigned and on-demand
assigned links for point-to-point and broadcast networks.
The Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) services were found to be widely used as
alternatives to leased lines and other terrestrial value added services such as
X.25/packet switching at significantly lower prices in some organisations in Nigeria.
Hosts and terminals are connected directly to the VSAT equipment (earth station)
making the need for a satellite central office unnecessary. In contrast to terrestrial
trunks, addition of bandwidth is effected easily by the service provider. It can support
relatively high bandwidth of 2mbps. VSAT can be configured for broadcast (one-way)
or interactive (two-way) data communications.
VSAT services have been found to suffer from long network delays caused by the up
and down links through the atmosphere and space. The delay is of the order of 250
microseconds compared with 15 microseconds for a typical terrestrial networks.
However, VSAT has been proved to have a higher error rate than fibre optics.
2. Private Wire

Private wire is a dedicated point-to-point circuit which could be provided over cable
or radio link system. This is being provided to customers for private and exclusive
use. Private Wire facilities, also called local exchange are dedicated lines or local
exchange area leased circuits. It is being provided on Analogue (up to 9.6 kbts) or
Digital (up to 64 kbts) speed lines. They are in Two categories:
a. Private Wire (Full Time)
b. Private Wire (Part Time)
3. Temporary Exchange Lines
These are voice grade circuits provided to serve at exhibitions and special events on
temporary basis.
4. Domestic Leased Circuit
These are dedicated (Leased) circuits within Nigeria. The circuits could be provided
on point-to-point or point-to-multi-point as may be required by the customer. Below is
a summary of the currently available infrastructure in all the NITEL installations in
the country. Table 1 illustrates those infrastructures that are currently available in
some states and zonal headquarters of NITEL.
Table 1: NITEL FACILITIES AT THE ZONAL OFFICES AND IN SOME
STATES
STATES
Abuja
Akwa Ibom
Anambra
NITEL
Bauchi
NITEL
Benue
Borno
Cross River
Edo
Imo
Kaduna
Earth
Western

EXCHANGE TYPE
FWSD (Siemens)
Analogue (PC 1000C)
Analogue (PC1000C)

REMARKS
Federal Capital

Digital (EWSD) Analogue (NC23OL)

North Eastern HQ of

Analogue PC 1000C
Digital IEWSD), analogue (PC 1000C)
Analogue (ARF10.Ericsson)
Digital (ITT system 12)
Analogue (AXE10, Ericsson)
Digital (Axe 10 Ericsson) analogue (NEC

ITSC with Ericsson-

230L)

Station. North

Kano
Kwara
Lagos

Digital (EWSD)
Digital (ITT System 12)
Analogue (ESK 10,000E) at Amuwo

Ondo

Analogue/Digital

East Central HQ of

zonal HQ of NITEL
Lagos Zonal HQ of
NITELNiger

Osun
Oyo
NITEL
Plateau
Rivers

Analogue (PC 1000C)


Digital (ITT System 12)

South-Western HQ of

Digital (AxE-10 Ericsson), analogue


Digital (linea UI)

Sokoto Analogue (PC1000c)


4.0 THE INFOSTRUCTURE FOR INFORMATION/TELECOMMUNICATION
DEVELOPMENT
4.1 Research and Development
There are presently more than 24 Research Institutes in the country. By the nature of
their organisation and mandates they play a leading role in the development of raw
materials and production methods for industrialisation. Most of them attract
experienced scientists, technicians and engineers to carry out the tasks of their
respective institutes. A good number of these Research Institutes are also bracing up to
those new challenges in local sourcing of raw materials and effecting technological
innovations. In addition to the Research Institutes, government parastatals like
NITEL, NIPOST, NTA, Railways have also established R & D laboratories and
industries for design, fabrication and local production of equipment and spare-parts.
The private sector has, until recently, not been forthcoming with technological
development in the country. Multinational subsidiaries operating in Nigeria rely more
on their parent companies or their associates for R & D instead of developing their
own independent facilities locally. While it is accepted that no parent company would
give up her immediate advantages by exposing her core technology to her subsidiary
in a developing nation for fear of the loss of license fees, loss of a market for spare
parts, components and other machinery, this attitude of multinational companies has
however slightly changed, especially with privatisation and commercialisation of
information and telecommunication operations. Both multinationals and indigenous
entrepreneurs have now been encouraged, more than ever before, to set up R & D
units in their organisations.
Finance is a major factor in achieving any measure of success in science and
technology development. The funds allocated by a country for science and technology
activities constitute an investment of a special kind. Since the key to national
development lies in the effective use of technology for development, it follows that
such an investment is vital for the future of the nation.

At present, Government sponsors almost all research activities in the country. There
has not been any significant break-throughs over the years and this has been
attributable to three factors, namely:
i) Multi-national companies who, although appreciate the role research and
development can play in increasing profits in their industries, nevertheless are fully
committed to carrying out their inevitable research and development activities in their
parent companies outside the country;
ii) Indigenous entrepreneurs in the manufacturing sector who are unwilling to invest
in research and development locally, preferring to buy packaged technologies which
are the outcome of foreign research and development activities; and
iii) Service organisations, public and private, who lack the appreciation of the role of
science and technology in their operation.
In order to ensure an increase in the general level of funding of science and
technology development activities and its stability, government has decided that
science and technology development activities in the country shall be financed
through a funding system involving the Federal Government and its parastatals, the
State Government and the Private Sector. In this connection, a National Science and
Technology Fund (NSTF) was established to which both government, industries and
philanthropic bodies contribute. In addition, government makes effective use of
bilateral and international schemes for the procurement of funds from outside for
science and technology development activities.
For meaningful technology development, the country's policy is being planned to:
i) have an assured raw materials base;
ii) have a strong manpower base;
iii) have adequate facilities for R & D;
iv) develop capabilities for innovations; and
v) develop production methods.
Furthermore, the need for closer linkage between centres of higher education and
research on one hand and industry on the other is now being emphasized more than
ever before. Also private entrepreneur are being encouraged to utilise the research
findings from the country's University and research institutes for commercial

production. In the past, private sector had complained of the non-relevance of the
work of these research institutions to their needs. To foster close collaboration and
liaison between these groups, the Ministry of Science and Technology has recently set
up a Consultative Committee on Industrial Research and Development made up of
representative from the Universities, Research Institutes, organised private sectors, the
National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture
(NACCIMA), the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), etc. and relevant
government departments. Through this forum, strategies are being worked out for the
commercial utilisation of research findings emanating from the various Research
Institutions in the country.
For example, a lot of simple circuits that are currently being used by the Ministry of
Communications are being adapted or developed by local institutions as has been
done in most countries. All that is needed is to identify systems and set target dates by
which Nigerian made units will be used in these systems. The institutions are then
invited to meet these targets. This has served as a challenge that these institutions of
higher learning are now bracing up to. If this line of approach continues to be
followed, in a few years, a number of systems will be developed locally and in some
cases improved versions will be produced. This has been done by other countries such
as India, Japan, Brazil, Taiwan, South Korea, etc., in recent years and Nigeria has just
started to embrace this culture. There has never been a better opportunity than now
that foreign exchange for purchase of systems abroad is scarce.
In this respect, it is pertinent to mention that in the Department of Electrical
Engineering of the University of Lagos, this effort has been started. In the university,
some equipment designed and constructed locally are being used for some of the
undergraduate laboratory experiments. Some of these equipments start as final year
projects and have been developed and in some cases improved upon. Further attempts
are also being made in designing and extending the range of other equipment in the
laboratories. This is necessary in these days of dwindling subventions from
government.
Most of the institutions of higher learning in the country have facilities for research
and development in the areas of electronics and communications engineering and
indeed in many other areas of engineering. In addition there are, in these institutions,
competent and resourceful personnel that can undertake researches in these areas and
their abilities are being utilized in developing systems that can be used in the country
so as to reduce expenditure on foreign consultants, experts or researchers. This has
helped to conserve our foreign exchange in these days of dwindling external earnings.
4.2 OVERALL LEVEL COMPUTER LITERACY AND COMPUTER
UTILIZATION IN NIGERIA

Despite the fact that there are presently many computer installations in Nigeria, the
awareness of the potentials of these computers and their relevance to our national
development and well-being is just emerging.
The nation's response to the growing data processing needs, as contained in the
National Development Policy Plans have continued to witness the importation and
sale of many computer hardwares and softwares to clients. Presently, it has been
observed that:
1. There are now well over 400 Computer Science Programmee and 1000 others from
faculties like Engineering and Physical Sciences that require offerings in Computer
Science up to 200 or 300 levels, as against about
150 students in a typical Computer Science Department in 1975, In addition, because
of the recently implemented National Universities Commission (NUC) minimum
standards, every university student must now take computer science courses at the 100
level at least. - (Though not much has been done to improve facilities in the Computer
Centres). Our Computer Science graduates will continue to emerge from the
universities with their heads full of theories but absolutely lacking inpractical
experience.
2. It is estimated that there are about 6000 secondary schools in Nigeria. If
each school were to have TWO computer science teachers to cover courses at the
senior classes, one would need 12,000 qualified computer science teachers to man the
schools.
3. Due to the strong job market for degree holders in Computer Science, fewer
graduates continue with postgraduate studies in Computer Science.
4 To fill in the gaps requires continuing education which now abounds
in every part of the country.
5. Because Nigeria operates a free market economy, there is practically no
control on the in-flow of computer hardware and software into the market.
6. With no regulations or any framework of control or standardization in force,
there is now diverse makes of computers most of which have started to end up as
heaps of faulty electronic gadgets in the few maintenance workshops available.

4.2.1 Computer Education in Secondary Schools


As a means of advancing information technology applications in the country, pilot
activities embarked upon by a number of State governments towards the introduction
of informatics to the school curriculum, have now metamophorsed into full
implementation in increased number of schools. Most states started with a pilot
project of 4, 6 or 8 selected secondary schools within the state and by late 1995 these
state governments have extended the facilities to at least one secondary school in each
Local Government Area (LGA). There are presently 589 Local Government Areas in
Nigeria and about 6,000 secondary schools. To execute the programme, a number of
teachers were trained for a couple of weeks either by a computer company or the
Polytechnic, depending on the cost considered reasonable by the government and in
the case of the Federal Government Colleges, by the National Teachers Institute
(NTI). These teachers had already started to return to implement the introduction of
informatics to the educational curriculum of schools.
Furthermore because of the present educational policies at the Federal, State and
Local Government levels, the country operates an extensive network of primary
schools, secondary schools and higher educational institutions. There are presently
18.7 million students enrolled in over 39.7 thousand institutions of various levels and
types. Of the 18.7 million students in schools, less than 2 million have access to
formal computer activities except in a very few private primary and secondary schools
(about 1% of total number of schools) which are elitist in their set-ups and charge fees
ranging from N20,000 to N250,000 per annum compared with an average of N500 per
annum charged in public schools. In addition to a large number of primary and
secondary institutions in the country, there are now 37 universities - 25 Federal and 12
state universities. No private university yet but plans are under way to encourage
individuals, corporate bodies, religious institutions etc. to establish private
universities.
For the past 5 years, the applications of information technology activities especially
those relating to education and training, have been rising significantly amongst youths
and other individuals due to a number of factors, namely:
1. Since 1978/79 till the present academic year, the existing universities have been
able to admit an average of 15% of qualified applicants into the institutions, leaving
about 85% qualified applicants unable to be admitted. This has led to this large
number enrolling in private computer schools all over the country for short-time
courses ranging from one week to one year.
2. There are more than 120 Commercial and Merchant Banks, 256 Mortgage banks
and a number of Finance Houses in the country today which lay emphasis on the

applications of information trchnology for their day to day operations. Because of the
lucrative payment incentives in these finance houses, most prospective applicants
strive to acquire certificates (formal or informal) in computer training with the hope of
being attracted by the Finance Houses.
3. Because of the liberalisation of the economy since the introduction of the Structural
Adjustment Programme (SAP) in 1986, many hitherto public companies have now
been privatised and in order to maximize production vis-a-vis profits, a number of
them have now imbibed computerisation into their operations. Computer literacy has
now become aprerequisite for appointment into most cadres of these companies.
4. Before 1988, offerings in computer science were envisaged strictly for the tertiary
level of education. Only the universities, polytechnics and Colleges of
Education/Technology were expected to teach courses in computer science and
produce graduates in that discipline.
5. The resultant effects of the above state of affairs as claimed by Uche, were:
(i) Very few Nigerians had access to tertiary education and only a negligible
percentage of this number were admitted into Departments of Computer Science.
Thus, only very few Nigerians were trained in computer technology.
(ii) Societal demand for computer literate Nigerians far outstripped the level of
production of this cadre of manpower.
In an attempt to solve all the above mentioned problems, the Federal Government of
Nigeria decided to formulate a Computer Policy which will not only address the need
for more awareness but also ensure that sound basis for computer education and
utilization is laid.
As the experience in several countries that had introduced computer literacy
programmes shows, the most appropriate place to start computer awareness
programmes is at the school level and the most appropriate level within the education
system is the secondary school level. Therefore the decision in 1988 of Government to
start its pilot programme in the Federal Government Colleges was in keeping with
what had proved successful for other countries and in line with the recommendations
of the committee on National Policy for Computer Education in Nigeria.
The Committee which consisted of eminent scholars and professionals in informatics
was mandated, amongst others, to

(i) advise Government on the types and levels of education that will contain offerings
of Computer Education courses;
(ii) determine the curricular contents and procedures best suited to the needs of this
country for the various levels of education, including general computer literary at the
tertiary levels;
(iii) Consider and advise on the ways and means of ensuring a smooth transition of
computer courses between and among the various types and levels of education.
In carrying out its assignment the Committee noted that the major objective of
introducing computer literacy and eduction at the secondary school level is to enable
them acquire a level of knowledge about computers which would fit them directly into
the employment market or enable them to pursue courses in computer science at
higher levels. The Committee outlined the following as the general Informatics Policy
Objectives for the nation:
(a) to bring about a Computer Literate Society in Nigeria by the middle of the 90's.
(b) to enable the present generation of school children at this level appreciate the
potentials of the computer and be able to utilise the computer in various aspects of life
and later occupation.
The first of these general objectives was interpreted by the Committee to imply that
the Government would like to see a policy which would not only cater for those
involved in the education enterprise, but also for the general populace. The intent of
government appears to centre around the need to ensure that everyone appreciates - the impact of information and computer technology on today's society;
- the importance of the effective use of information to the individual and the society;
- the techniques by which information is processed, managed, and communicated; and
- the role of computers in information management.
The second general objective directly addresses students who for the first time in the
history of the country would benefit from the computer education programme and
who will therefore be the flag-bearers in the nation's determination to join the current
world-wide computer revolution. This general statement has thus been expanded to
comprise the following educational objectives:

- ability to use and program computers.


- knowledge and ability to use and develop software packages.
- understanding of the structure and operation of the computer.
- knowledge about the history of computers.
- appreciation of the economic, social and psychological impact of the computer.
- the use of the computer in problem-solving.
The above objectives provide a basis for the committees' recommendation of the
following main curricular content items for the secondary school level:- rudimentary knowledge about information systems, information processing
techniques and the role of the computer in this regard;
- exposure to the historical overview and the development of modern-day computer
and its basic components;
- knowledge about the uses to which computers are put in everyday life;
- a basic appreciation of how a computer works.
- an understanding of the basic principles of operating a computer,
- hands-on experiences using pre-programmed packages which are relevant to the
interests of the students as teaching aids in different subjects.
- an introduction to the concept of different computer languages, and their
applications.
- appreciation of problem-solving methods and techniques as they apply to the
computer, program design, coding and documentation.
On the need for a smooth transition between types and levels of education, the
committee recommended that although primary schools will use lower-end computers
and the secondary schools a more sophisticated one, there is not going to be much
difference between the general approach to the teaching of computer lessons at these
two levels. Similarly, the curriculum will enable secondary school students to cope
with the university studies in computer science. According to the committee, the
concept of computer education and literacy presents challenges which have not been

faced before by the teachers. The Committee noted that for the first time both the
teacher and the learner will be at virtually the same level of knowledge (or lack of it!).
A training package was therefore recommended by the committee for the teacher.
The objectives of such training are to:
- build confidence in the handling of computer hardware and software.
- encourage the teacher to develop a "sense" of rapport with the computer and
appreciate its potential for resolving teaching and learning challenges.
- take account of and familiarise the teachers with the dynamic nature of computer
technology, thus stressing the necessity for continuous upgrading of his knowledge.
- manage small computer laboratories and workshops.
- appreciate importance of documentation procedures and softwares maintenance.
The Committee on National Policy for Computer Education in Nigeria was also
mandated to define, as clearly as possible, the roles of Federal and State governments
and relevant institutions, particularly the universities, polytechnics, research institutes
and some of the parastatals in the attainment of the objectives of Computer Education.
The major merit of the National Policy on Computer Education, therefore, is that it
recommends the introduction/incorporation of computer studies at all levels lower
than the universities and Polytechnics. As a matter of fact, the committee
recommended a total lifting of restrictions on computer education in a way that
computer literacy programmes can begin right from the primary school. According to
the Committee, computers should be introduced at any level provided the necessary
facilities and resources exist.
A good computer education programme should therefore aim not only at teaching
Nigerians how to use the computer effectively for national development but also at
preparing them to master computer technology with a view to ensuring the
maintenance, and eventually the production of computers.
4.2.2 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMME AT THE TERTIARY
LEVEL
University Level

Since 1962 when the National Univesities Commission (NUC) was set up following
the recommendation of Ashby Commission, the NUC has been supervising and coordinating the activities of all the universities in Nigeria. The Commission has played
a major role in the success of the Computer Literacy Programme in the universities.
It has provided guidelines relating to the minimum hardware and software
environment for the Universities to enable them effectively pursue the computer
literacy programme. Additionally, the Commission has been supporting the
development of curricula and programmes in the universities especially the new
degree programmes in computer science and engineering covering the Bachelors,
Masters and Doctorate degrees.
The computer literacy programmes at the university level have over the years been
directed at:
- establishing and entrenching a computer culture that permeates all activities in the
University;
- producing university graduates who are considered computer literates irrespective of
their course of studies or major disciplines;
- producing Computer Science and Engineering graduates who constitute the core of
professionals in the practice and advancement of Computer Technology;
- conducting research and developing hardware, firmware, software, and course-ware
that will enable the country to attain the latest Computer Technology capability; and
- ensuring the provision of the manpower and other resources required to meet the
broader objectives of computer literacy at the tertiary, secondary and primary levels of
education, and at the societal level.
4.2.3 Polytechnic and Colleges of Education Level
Apart from the NUC there is also the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE)
which has statutory responsibility for ensuring standards of Education in Polytechnics
and Technical Colleges, and also in co-ordinating the development, management and
funding of Federal Polytechnics and Federal Technical Colleges. Within this general
framework, the NBTE has had the following specific roles to play in the introduction
of Computer Education in the institutions under its jurisdiction;
- integrating the curriculum for computer literacy at the secondary and tertiary levels,
into the programmes of Polytechnics and Technical Colleges nation-wide.

overseeing the development of Computer Education programmes at the Colleges of


Education and Polytechnics.
- monitoring the polytechnics and Federal Colleges of Education (Technical) to ensure
that they have incorporated tertiary level computer literacy into their general studies
programmes, and that they have acquired adequate facilities for this.
- accrediting Computer Studies' programmes at Technical Colleges level.
- developing syllabus for a Higher National Diploma (HND) option in Computer
Science and Technology immediately for adoption by Polytechnics, and encourage the
programme in Polytechnics.
- reviewing the Polytechnics' Computer Science and Technology programmes
periodically.
- promoting and funding adaptive research in the polytechnics for the design, and
development of computer hardware, software and firmware, power systems, thin-film
technology and printed circuit boards.
- integrating the Management Information System scheme into its Computer
Education programme.
- upgrading its in-house Computer capability to a level adequate to the demands of its
statutory tasks.
Under the guidance of NBTE, the Polytechnics in Nigeria have been
performing a number of informatics role in the country. Such
roles include:
- training of technicians and technologists for hardware maintenance, adaptive designs
and development.
- training of technicians for software design and development.
- establishing, designing, developing and producing hardware, software and firmware.
- development of thin-film technology application particularly in printed circuit board
design and production.

- mounting of courses for technicians and technologists for the various levels of
personnel from industry and the community at large.
4.2.4 ESTABLISHMENT OF MIS IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES
Management Information System (MIS) was formally introduced into Nigerian
Universities Management systems in 1990 under the auspices of the National
Universities Commission (NUC) to deal
essentially with students, staff and financial records in the universities, and to provide
periodic information reports for all Units within the Universities.
Training needs were identified as realistic ways of meeting the proposal. The areas
identified as priorities include:
(i) Creating general awareness for MIS;
(ii) Computer appreciation;
(iii) Data collection and processing;
(iv) Data interpretation; and
(v) Computer operations
Each university was requested to set up an MIS Committee with
membership specified by the NUC. The first training assignment of the MIS
committee was to organise training for Principal Officers in order to get them
personally identified with the project and provide leadership and support. This was to
be followed by training of other users in the Registry, Bursary, Library, Academic
Planning etc. For the generality of staff and students, the MIS Committee was
mandated to organise sensitisation and popularisation campaigns on MIS, its
objectives and benefits.
In all the above, in-house training , using the facilities of the computer centres and/or
the computer science department was to be encouraged.
In addition to the above courses, most of the universities, polytechnics and colleges of
education operate short-time courses in Wordprocessing, Database Management,
Spreadsheet and Statistical analyses leading to awards of in-house certificates and
diplomas.At the international level but with the country, other Informatics activities
include the establishment of:

4.2.5 OTHERS
1. Centre for Micro-Informatics Maintenance Department of Computer Technology,
Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria.
This Centre was established by the International Governmental Informatics
Programme of UNESCO with the main purpose of:
. Providing exposure and training in hardware maintenance
. understanding the modular layout and functional organization of units used in
present day architecture
. understanding the use of state-of-the-art test equipment and software diagnostics aids
in practical problems acquiring hands-on practical training through direct and
inductive tuition.
It organises short-time and advance study internship in information technology and
micro-informatics maintenance and training for participants within the West African
sub-region.
2. The Centre for Informatics Research and Training was established at the Ogun State
University to:
(i) facilitate active and meaningful research for development, using computers;
(ii) serve as a centre for short training programmes in the Africa Commonwealth
region in the area of IT;
(iii) assist researchers in universities and research institutes as well as practitioners in
R & D units of industry to use available resources in the Centre to solve problems and
to meet and exchange ideas with professional colleagues and update their knowledge;
and
(iv) act as a catalyst for initiating research and training programmes in IT which will
eventually benefit the government as well as interested Commonwealth African
countries.
3. The Africa Regional Centre for Information Science (ARCIS) started operating in
November 1990 at the University of Ibadan. A number of international agencies
played important roles in formulating its objectives, organizational structure and
programmes. ARCIS addresses itself to African development problems that have

demonstrable information services components, with a view to providing both shortand long-term solutions to them.
In pursuance of its objective, ARCIS is involved in the following activities:
1. running higher degree programmes in information science (MInfSc, MPhil, PhD);
2. providing short-term training and retraining, through seminars and workshops, at
different levels of information services;
3. providing consultancy services in systems analysis, design and evaluation; database
construction and management; information policy formulation and implementation;
and solutions to operational problems in information technology; and
4. conducting research on the problems and prospects of information science in the
rapid socio-economic development of Africa.
5.0. MANAGING TELECOMMUNICATIONS: REGULATORY AND POLICY
ENVIRONMENT
5.1 Introduction
It is generally accepted that an accessible telecommunications capability is a
prerequisite for national economic growth and, therefore, investment in the
telecommunications infrastructure is paramount in any society. Those countries that
developed their telecommunications services in the private domain of the economy,
notably the U.S.A, have demonstrated that communication is big business and highly
profitable. High net worth customers are naturally attractive to the
telecommunications entrepreneur, but on account of the social benefits of
communication, which are central for interpersonal relations and society's integrity,
society has to protect and provide for low density and less affluent users also. In
Nigeria there have been at least four National Telecommunication Development Plans
since 1960 in which efforts have been made to accord telecommunications some
measure of priority at least in financial terms. However, objectives in one plan period
were invariably unaccomplished during that period and hence have to spill-over to the
next. In terms of achievements in relation to investment, results lagged behind
expectations due to various reasons. Thus although telecommunication development
in Nigeria has followed some pattern, its course was not in accordance with any
definite telecommunications policy. It is in order to stem this tide that the present
administration, like the previous ones, included among its policy objectives, the
establishment of a national telecommunications policy for Nigeria.

5.2 Domestic Challenges


In 1992, the telecommunications industry in Nigeria received its own dosage of the
deregulation elixir in two forms. The first was the commercialisation or
corporatization of Nigerian Telecommunications (NITEL) while the second was the
establishment of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the
telecommunications industry regulator.
The motivating forces driving the deregulation of telecommunications services in
Nigeria include:
Private consumer and business demand for good quality telecommunications services
at affordable prices and competitiveness;
Need for reduced time for telephone installation and service delivery;
Diversification and complexity of user needs;
Advances in technology;
Demand for improved business efficiency in the face of tight budgets.
Economic development and job creation;
The trend worldwide.
In the light of the above, the Nigerian Government's decision to deregulate the
telecommunications industry has had positive and far-reaching implications which are
expected to provide the needed leverage and act as a catalyst for various forms of
business, economic, social and organisational developments.
The strategic implication of the above is that the core areas of public switches and
trunks and international services have been reserved for the national operator, NITEL.
This is to provide the necessary incentive and cross-subsidy for services to the rural
communities and social services. That notwithstanding, and in order not to frustrate
private sector participation, government, as a matter of policy, has maintained that the
national career - NITEL is required to:
provide network access and interconnectivity to other licensed operators,
charge fair and competitive tariffs for such access and interconnectivity.

concentrate its efforts and resources on core infrastructure development, i.e. the
provision of public switches and long distance trunk capacity.
In return, it was expected that NITEL will benefit from increased traffic to be
generated through its network by private operators and through enhanced revenue
generation and collection.
The regulatory body, the Nigerian Communications Commission was formally
inaugurated on the 16th of July 1993.
5.2.1 The objectives of the Commission were:
to create a regulatory environment for the supply of telecommunications services,
facilities and to promote fair competition and efficient market conduct;
to facilitate the entry into markets for telecommunications services and facilities of
persons wishing to supply such services and facilities.
to ensure that licensees or authorised carries and other providers of
telecommunications services and infrastructure meet their commercial obligations and
such other obligations in a manner which promotes cooperation and fairness;
to protect licensees and the public from unfair conduct of other providers of
telecommunications services, with regard to the quality of service and to the payment
of tariffs;
to ensure that licensees achieve the highest possible level of accountability and
responsiveness to customer and community needs;
to ensure that standard telephone services are supplied as efficiently and economically
as possible and at such performance standards which reasonably meet the social,
industrial, and commercial needs of the community.
to promote the development of other sectors of the Nigerian economy through the
commercial supply of modern telecommunications services.
to establish technical standards and promote the development of Nigeria's
telecommunications capabilities, industries and skills;
to ensure that the Nigerian public have growing access to telecommunications
facilities; and

to optimise the use of telecommunications facilities in Nigeria with due consideration


for the rights of the licensees and the public interest.
5.2.2 FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION
The functions of the Commission are as follows:
the responsibility for economic and technical regulation of the privatised sector of the
telecommunications industry;
to ensure the safety and quality of telecommunications services by determining
technical standards and regulating technical execution and performance;
to manage Nigeria's input into the setting of international technical standards for
telecommunications;
the responsibility for giving advice and assistance to the entire Nigerian
telecommunications industry;
the responsibility for giving reports and assistance to the Ministry or Minister in
relation to the telecommunications industry;
the promotion of competition in the telecommunications industry;
the protection of suppliers of telecommunications services or facilities from unfair
practices of other telecommunications supplies which are damaging to competition.
to facilitate the entry into the market for such services and facilities by persons
wishing to supply such services and facilities;
to undertake studies into space technology and manage the utilisation of satellite
facilities for the benefit of Nigerian operators and users;
the protection of licensees from misuse of market power by other carriers;
the arbitration of disputes between licensees and other participants in the
telecommunications industry;
to receive investigate complaints from licensees, carriers, consumers and other
persons in the telecommunications industry;
to advise the Minister or Secretary on ways of promoting competition within the
telecommunications industry.

the responsibility for the protection of public interest by ensuring that the provisions
of the law are carried out with due regard to public interest;
the protection of consumers from unfair practices of licensees and other persons in the
supply of telecommunications services and facilities;
to develop performance standards and indices relating to the quality of telephone and
other telecommunications services and facilities supplied to consumers having regard
to the best international performance indicators and Nigerian conditions;
to monitor and report to the Minister or Secretary on charges paid by consumers, the
performance of licensees and other persons in meeting the standards specified by the
Commission;
the issuance of telecommunications licenses;
to monitor the conduct of holders of the licenses and to enforce the conditions
included in the licenses.
5.2.3 BENEFITS
The benefits of the existence of the Nigerian Communication Commission derive
from private sector participation and investment in the telecommunications Sector and
the benefits both immediate and remote have started to manifest in greater efficiency,
greater flexibility, and less stress in the way people organize their business, economic
and social activities. The Nigerian economy is being stimulated and more wealth
created resulting in the provision of incentives for the development of professionalism
in telecommunications service delivery and for telecommunications professionals to
participate more meaningfully and visibly in the Nigerian economic activities.
The last few years since NITEL was privatised, have witnessed far reaching changes
in the Nigerian telecommunications sector. Changes that were unprecedented since
1886 when telecommunications was first introduced in Nigeria.
These changes accompanied the leaps of technological developments and changes in
regulatory regimes of almost all countries in the world. In Nigeria these reforms
include the formation of NITEL in 1985, the commercialisation of the company in
1992, the promulgation of the decree and subsequent establishment of the NCC in
1993.
In effect NITEL (PLC) has dedicated more resources into modernisation and
expansion of the following facilities in the national network:-

International and Intercity trunk lines.


Primary and secondary switches.
Deployment of fibre optic technology in the trunk, junction and local line segments of
the network:These improvements have enhanced economy of scale and enabled NITEL to achieve
increased efficiency in resource management thereby creating a stable tariff structure
that could now enable users of the facilities to plan their operations. Another outcome
of the modernisation programme was the open network which allows new service
providers to start services with relative ease. Invariably two grades of carriers have
since emerged with Grade I carriers such as NITEL (PLC) owning transmission
channels, and Grade II carriers renting these channels from NITEL (the Grade I
carriers) to provide services to end-users. NITEL's R & D Department, on its own
part, has continued to investigate the appropriate technologies that could accelerate
the network transformation and enhance the activities of the two carriers.
A cursory overview of the deregulated Nigerian telecommunications sector has
revealed that great opportunities abound for investors to come up with new products
and services. The sheer size of the Nigerian population (100 Million) and the great
strides being made in the economic field as well as the prospects of providing these
services with the assured profitability characteristic of telecommunications
investments are current factors that have instilled some confidence in the entrepreneur
in the Nigerian telecommunications environment.
5.2.4 COPING WITH INTERCONNECTIVITY ISSUES AND COMPETITION
IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS REGULATION.
Telecommunications, the art and science of information transmission and circulation
earlier regarded as a minor component of infrastructure, became in the 1980s a
strategic factor of development at all levels, from individual firms to regions and
countries. It is the principal factor in National, Regional and International integration.
By eliminating distance, telecommunications bring together all kinds of partners,
saving time and resources, which are valuable factors in economic development and
economic and social integration. Capitals and large cities around the world are linked
by telecommunications and information networks covering almost all aspects of
business, commerce, education, news, entertainment, etc.
Through telecommunications which is regarded as the medium which replaces the
physical movement of people across distances. the world has become smaller than at
any time in the past and it is even getting smaller and smaller for the benefit and

enhancement of world peace. Indeed, communications, financial transactions and


trade, as well as a large share of the manufacturing sector, could come to a virtual
standstill without telecommunications.
Telecommunications is at the fore front of current economic and social affairs. The
digitalization of networks globally has further destroyed the boundaries which
separated them from the fields of electronics and computing. The resultant
multiplication of tele-services and their increasing sophistication have exploded the
technical and commercial limitations which previously existed. The evolution has
been decisive and here in Nigeria, has followed from technical facts and not political
will.
Today, the challenge of meeting the large and rising demand is being met by moving
toward a sector structure that is plural and competitive, with a mix of service
providers - private and public, using various technologies and offering services
tailored to different user needs.
Propelled mainly by current technological advances, the telecommunications arena in
Nigeria has started to undergo profound structural changes, giving rise to cheaper and
more reliable telecommunications equipment and services on the one hand, and on the
other, a whole new range of services. Public telecommunications is moving rapidly
from protected national markets with huge cross-subsidies between certain services to
global competitive markets. Public Telecommunications Operators (PTOs) are now
responding to this liberalization challenge by becoming corporatized and in some
cases also privatized. In order to respond to global competition, joint ventures and
other forms of alliances are increasingly being established between the major PTOs
and equipment manufacturers. New operators are also being established focusing in
particular on telecommunications growth areas such as integrated telecommunications
services for multinational companies, international telephony and mobile telephony.
6.0 STRUCTURAL BALANCE OF INFORMATION:COMMUNICATION
ENGINEERING THROUGH POLICY (INFOSTRUCTURE)
For any development process, it is vital to have horizontal information channels that
activate all sectors of the population and facilitate access to decision-making for
otherwise excluded sectors.
An equally eloquent expression of the same point was made in the "Report on Means
of Enabling Active Participation in the Communication Process and Analysis of the
Right to Communicate", presented at the nineteenth Unesco General Conference at
Nairobi in 1976. It reads:

In the past, the role of communication in society was seen essentially as to inform and
influence people. It is now being proposed that communication should be understood
as a process of social intercourse through a balanced exchange of information and
experience... This shift in perception implies the predominance of dialogue over
monologues. This aim is to achieve a system of horizontal communication based upon
equitable distribution of resources and facilities enabling all persons to send as well as
to receive messages.
This new perspective of the role of communication in society was indeed
acknowledged and applauded by the participants at the Intergovernmental Conference
on Communication Policies in Africa when they asserted that the people of the rural
communities should no longer be regarded as mere listeners but rather as actual
'animators', creators of news and participants both in the process of producing
information and in programmes for their society. In other words, the time is past when
the masses of the people should only be communicated at. It is time to start thinking
of communicating with them.
However, in spite of the above, the communication system of most Third World
countries is heavily biased in favour of the urban elite. The urban elite monopolises
the available information, which makes the information flow vertical, skewed, and not
calculated to ensure participation of the majority of the population. There is, in other
words, differential access to information which has resulted in apathy and the
alienation of a very large proportion of the citizens of these countries. For authentic
national development to take place, there is therefore the need to alter the pattern in
favour of a system which stresses lateral, two-way communication.
7.0 TELECOMMUNICATIONS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY NEEDS AND
PRIORITIES IN NIGERIA
7.1 An Analysis of the Problems of Telecommunication Development
Telegraph service was opened in Lagos on September 2nd, 1886. In spite of what
appeared to be an early start, the development of telecommunication service in the
country has been slow. Up until the 50's for example, government and large business
concerns were the primary users of telephone services, they were probably the only
users who could afford the service as the per capital gross national product was then
rather low.
With the advent of the oil boom in the 70's, however, the economic situation changed
and this was followed by a dramatic increase in demand for telephone service. As the
installed telecommunication infrastructure could not cope with the rising demand, the
quality of service began to deteriorate. To arrest the worsening situation, the Federal

government took significant measures in the 3rd and 4th national development plans
(1975-1985) by allocating a total of about 5.5 billion for the modernisation and
expansion of public telecommunication service. These measures were designed to
increase the number of installed telephone lines by more than ten-fold in the ten year
period. However, as the world we live in is a world of innovations in different facets
of life, the technological giant leaps of this last decade of the twentieth century call for
new and innovative approaches to modern management methods in the
telecommunication industry. There is no way the traditional monopolistic system of
the telecommunication industry can survive the 21st century in view of the rapidly
changing telecommunication environment. The way out is for all countries to accept
that changes must of necessity come and therefore find ways of addressing pertinent
issues at a convenient and reasonable pace, relative to each nation's condition, so that
when it eventually comes, no nation will be caught unawares. The I.T.U's Telecom '95
Exhibitions with the Technology and Strategic Summits of the associated Forum
series, clearly testified to this statement. At this forum, Information Technology which
utilizes computers, telecommunications, video, reprographic and many micrographic
equipment were put on display to offer diverse solutions to developing countries. This
integration of data, voice and image, together with flexible communications networks,
means that a variety of technology applications are now available.
It is essential, nonetheless, that Information Technology should be adequately
managed. Nations are becoming aware of the need to manage information in the
planned way that they manage other key resources. Information Technology must be
well integrated into the overall management structure of a nation and we haven't
achieved this yet in Nigeria. This will soon be achieved through the National
Telecommunications Policy now being finalised.
In terms of computers and computer applications, the evolution of information
Technology is very rapid. Hardware costs are falling (even here in Nigeria) and its
power is increasing. User-friendly interfaces and new software are also bringing
technology closer to end-users, significantly modifying the technical specialist role.
For telecommunications, the application of wireless technology has also brought into
focus faster and cheaper extension of service to the end user.
7.2 The Information and Communications Environment (Infrastructure and
Infostructure).
That the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria attaches great importance to
telecommunications industry in the country because of its potential in promoting the
commercial, industrial, socio-economic as well as political development and unity of
Nigeria cannot be overemphasized. In addition, the government fully supports the
need to meet the customers and business demands for good quality

telecommunications services, reduced time for telephone installation and service


delivery, diversification and complexity of users needs, advances in technology,
demand for improved business efficiency in the face of tight budgets, cost reductions
and competitiveness as well as the trend world over.
Telecommunications has been described above as so vital to human existence: its very
essence hinges on the basic fundamental rights of individuals, nonetheless there is a
correlation between the state of a country's telecommunications infrastructure and its
state of development, just as a relationship can be established between a country's
gross domestic product and its relative position in an increasingly globalised economy
and boarderless world.
At the current 0.66 telephone lines per 100 population, Nigeria's telecommunications
industry can be said to be in the state of development. This is also evident in the
quality of life of Nigerians and the nature of the business environment.
Given the capital intensive nature of the industry and the enormity of the shortfall in
Nigeria there is no doubt that the development of telecommunications services in
Nigeria is too heavy a burden to be borne by Government alone. Indeed many
Government administrations are having to change their methods of operating, in
response to declining resources and increasing demands for public services.
One evident outcome of the influence of the development in communication policy
formulation in the Third World is the fact that for the past two decades governments in
these countries have been forced, either by persuasion or pressure, to invest heavily in
the acquisition of modern telecommunication facilities with the aim of modernising
their mass communication institutions and enhancing their technical capacities to
generate and disseminate information widely. As a result, the technological growth of
the communication systems in the developing world in the past few decades has been
so phenomenal that on comparative terms the "change has been rapid in the less
developed countries and slow in the advanced countries". But this development in the
technical capacities of Third World National communication system has been largely
unplanned and, has been in utter neglect of some important dimensions of the
communicative process. For example, the acquisition of more modern technical
facilities for the modernisation of national communication systems in Third World
countries has been undertaken without much consideration being given to the
structural character of the society within which the institution has to operate and in
relation to the desirable state of corporate existence shared by a broad segment of the
citizenry and borne out of their historical and contemporary experiences.
7.3 Communication Institution Info-Structures

The institution of modern mass communication - newspapers, radio, television,


magazine - in most of the developing Third World including Nigeria is, like the
institutions of modern political, economic and socio-cultural formations in these
places.
Although news media institutions all over the world have common functions of
information, education and entertainment, their remarkable characteristics are never
determined in vacuum but by the extent to which those common media activities are
organised to serve as instruments for the development, refinement and propagation of
specific ideologies or world views that distinguish one media nation from another.
The preceding discussions have led to certain general conclusions about what a
national communication policy in the specific circumstances of Nigeria should
incorporate. First, the issue of the fundamental philosophy of the social order within
which the news media processes and the communication needs of the society and
appropriate resources - human and technological - are organised, harnessed and
systematised clearly in policies. The requirement of the news media is not simply to
propagate such views of corporate existence, but to provide avenues for their greater
articulation, refinement, assimilation and incorporation into the personal world views
of the majority of the citizens. The world view to be advanced must not only be those
that advance our vision of life but those that do not run counter to our ethical and
moral notions of human existence, corporate relations and collective conscience.
Second, the policy must be able to provide clear and articulate structures for the vivid
expressions of these values. It makes little or no sense for policy to state, at the global
philosophical level lofty human ideals and virtues only to fail at the concrete
operational level to provide adequate organisational and infrastructural facilities to
advance those ideas. At the level of our foreign relations, for instance, the organisation
of our international communication outfits and their locations in the world should be
able to articulate both in symbolic and substantive terms what human values we wish
to advance, who we think shares those values and how if conditions were stacked in
our favour we would like to order the world. Domestically, there is the need for policy
to ensure that the channels for mass communication are neither concentrated in the
hands of few powerful individuals nor aggregated in few cities to avoid conveying the
impression of essentially important and not so important segments of the general
population in the national life. Third, there is the need for policy to provide for
regulatory mechanisms that will ensure that while the desired inherited tradition of
freedom of expression and the press is upheld and furthered as a dominant feature of
the social structure, it is not employed for the advancement or protection of those
values that contradict the essential basis of the society.
Institutions are the basic organisational framework through which modern nations
function. The notion and essence of nationhood which a people hold, the sentiments,

emotions and judgements they express about their collective identity and collective
aspirations, their vision of the future and their commitment to its realisation, as well as
the fundamental human values that characterise their psychosocial behaviourial
patterns, are usually embedded in, and articulated by the structure of their institutional
arrangements and roles, designed to meet the needs of their community. In short, the
values which are inherent in the structure of a society's institution-order, generally
constitute the primary force for the ordering of symbols that facilitate communication
among its various groups, as well as the underlying processes that characterise the
dynamic aspects of their social interaction and productive activities. Concern for the
fundamental values that underpin a society's institutional arrangement and roles, with
fundamental values that underpin a society's institutional arrangement and roles, with
particular sensitivity to their adequacy or otherwise to satisfy the basic human
aspirations and needs of the people, at any point in their corporate development, is
therefore an imperative consideration in the formulation of a proper national
communication policy for the governance of modern states.
7.4 A FRAMEWORK FOR NATIONAL COMMUNICATION POLICY
There is no doubt that a standard national communication and information policy
could produce a homogenisation of thought and serve as veritable instruments for the
wholesome integration and participation of all segments of a plural society in the life
of a nation, for the equitable distribution of the resources available for exchange of
ideas and information among various groups and sectors of the society, for a balanced
flow of messages within all points in the land and among its citizens, as well as for the
deliberate deployment of collective resources in the service of all. What therefore is of
crucial importance in the formulation of a national communication policy, is a clear
conception of the kind of society a nation wants for itself.
In Nigeria, for example, an enlightened national communication policy must therefore
dovetail to the fundamental objectives and directive principles of the state, as
enshrined in Chapter II of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1979.
This section provides, inter alia:
1. For the establishment of a state and government based on the principles of
democracy and justice and the composition of organs of the state in a manner as to
reflect the federal character of the nation -- i.e. recognising the diversity of the peoples
of the Nigerian nation and the need to promote a sense of belonging and loyalty
among all the people through appointments and distribution of resources for active
participation in the life of the nation,

2. Establishing the necessary conditions for the promotion of national integration


through the provision of adequate facilities for the encouragement of free mobility of
people, goods and services, including ideas and thoughts, throughout the nation,
3. Fostering the feeling of belonging and involvement among the various peoples of
the Federation in the life of the nation,
4. Promotion of planned and balanced economic development and ensuring that the
economic system, including, of course, the means for the production of information
and capacity to communicate, is not operated in such a manner as to permit the
concentration of wealth or the means of production and exchange in the hands of a
few individuals or of a group,
5. Ensuring equality of rights, obligations and opportunities before the law, as well as
the independence and impartiality and integrity of courts of law,
6. Ensuring equal and adequate education, including public enlightenment, at all
levels of state organisation,
7. Promotion of African Unity, as well as total political, economic, social and cultural
liberation of Africa and combating racial discrimination in all its manifestations,
8. The protection and enhancement of authentic Nigerian culture, and
9. The fostering of the obligation of the press, to monitor governance in all its
ramifications.
Nigeria, like some other nations in Africa, occupies such strategic position on the
continent. An enlightened national communication policy for Nigeria, as well as for
similarly located strategic countries in Africa, ought therefore to have the issues of
regional solidarity, collective African self-affirmation and the defence of all Africa's
interests in the world community as part of the core of its international
communication goals.
The national communication policy, when enacted should therefore spell out in broad
terms what the national objectives should be for the establishment and operation of
radio and television broadcasting in the country. Below are some suggestions for
consideration:
1. The provision of efficient broadcasting services to the entire people of the
Federation of Nigeria, based on national objectives and aspirations. Specifically, radio

broadcasting should satisfy the needs of external audiences in accordance with


Nigeria's foreign policy.
2. The provision of a professional and comprehensive coverage of Nigerian culture in
terms of promoting the cultural development and growth through constructive, result
oriented research, and to publicise the results of such research works for the benefit of
the people.
3. To ensure that the positive contribution of the media is geared towards the
development of the Nigerian society and also towards the promotion of national unity
and integration, by making sure that there is a balanced presentation of views from all
parts of the country.
4. To ensure that there is regular delivery of accurate information to the people.
5. To provide a better opportunity for healthy discussion of important issues of
national interest designed to enlighten and mobilize the public.
6. To provide a regular channel of communication between the Government and the
people.
7. To promote research on various aspects of communication media and their effects
on Nigerian society. Such research should embrace audience research, innovative
methods of production and authentic indigenisation of broadcasting media.
Furthermore, the research should determine, on a continuous basis, the criteria for the
censorship of films and books, for the protection of our political, economic, social and
cultural interests.
8. With regards to dissemination of information, the mandatory functions of the
broadcast media should be the promotion of development objectives in such areas as
health, economy, education, utilities, food production, infrastructural and industrial
development.
9. Commercial broadcasting should reflect clearly defined national values, norms and
other national interests that may not necessarily entail financial profit.
10. The broadcast media should be used as a formidable weapon for the mobilization
of the people of the country for the overall good of the nation.
Policy on broadcasting also made provision for the establishment of a national
communication regulatory body. The body is empowered to lay down rules, set up
standards, enforce broadcasting codes, and make recommendations on matters relating

to issuance and withdrawal of broadcasting licences to private broadcasting


organisations. In this connection, the following objectives for the national regulatory
body were planned to be found functional:
1. To guarantee on a permanent basis the loftiest ideals of excellence in broadcasting.
2. To provide regulatory jurisdiction for all broadcasting stations in the federation, in
terms of national, state, privately-owned or commercial broadcasting stations.
3. To set moral and ethical standards for national and international broadcasting and to
monitor and control such standards.
4. To promulgate a standard of programme service which would meet the tastes, needs
and desires of all groups of the public.
5. To make broadcasting impartial.
6. To ensure the rationalisation of broadcasting activity and a co-ordination of
broadcasting development.
7. To arrange for the location of transmitters as to ensure that all parts of the country
can receive national programmes.
8. To undertake a continuous assessment of overall broadcasting requirements of the
nation and the development of long-term coordination and rationalisation plans.
8.0 ON-GOING SUPPORTIVE TELECOMMUNICATIONS INITIATIVES
NITEL is now being configured for a joint-venture ownership of a number of
privately-owned facilities. For example, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
(NNPC) optical fibre telecommunications network (Figure 2) is being considered for a
joint-venture ownership by the NNPC and members of the Public with additional
transmission links (radio and optical cable) to raise access for the international
service.
Already, the NNPC optical fibre network has offered a stiff competition to NITEL in
the provision of high-speed leased lines and digital telephone service on certain routes
while the cellular telephone network has offered a stiff competition to NITEL's
domestic telephone service.
The opportunities for the early growth of VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminals) in
satellite communications via the NCC-controlled space segments, is another factor

which, when fully operational, will accelerate the development of Domestic Operators
and User Networks in Nigeria. VSAT is fully deregulated in Australia, Japan and the
US, and is also been gradually deregulated here in Nigeria.
When deciding policies on technical development of telecommunications, one must
take into consideration such parameters as Population, Economy of the Nation and
National Target.
The present aspiration of the Nigerian Telecommunications authority is to attain the
telephone density of 1 to 100 as defined in the Lagos Plan of Action, Declaration of
Lome and Arusha Declaration, of which Nigeria is a signatory. Consequently, the
Ministry of Communications is found to be pursuing the following objectives on the
development of telecommunications services, in future, in order to achieve self
reliance by the year 2000.
(a) Support for the government's programme of rural infrastructure development by
extending telephone service to the rural areas in an economic and judicious manner.
(b) Campaign for the recognition, by the government, of telecommunications as a
support component for other development sectors such as agriculture, tourism, health
and education so as to ensure that the funding necessary for the telecommunication
facilities required is included in the development plans for these sectors.
(c) Adoption of an operation and maintenance strategy that will ensure maximum
utilisation of the existing facilities and provision of good quality service in order to
generate adequate funds for further development of the network.
(d) Standardisation,a pre-requisite for local manufacture, being embarked upon,
covering equipment and materials operations and architecture as applicable.
(e) Local manufacture of materials, components and systems in partnership with good
intentioned industrial entrepreneurs, to enhance maintenance of existing systems, to
establish a technological base necessary for achievement of self reliance in
telecommunications technology.
(f) Tapping available resources for the financing of the implementation of well
designed and economical viable projects for rehabilitation, maintenance and new
installations.
(g) Establishing a suitable management structure for the implementation of the
development programmes.

(h) Operating a tariff structure which will ensure enhanced revenue generation from
urban facilities without discouraging the use of rural facilities.
(i) Establishment of Research and Development facilities where special investigations,
pilot projects will be carried out.
(j) Intensive local or in-plant training and re-training of executive technical
manpower.
(k) Co-operation with other Administrations and the CCIT on frequency spectrum
management.
(l) Adoption of suitable planning and forecasting approach to determine the exact
requirements for a project to ensure that it will be correctly implemented and
successfully put into service.
(m) Increase the available telephone lines in the country to above one million to
achieve the target density of 1 percent for a population of 100 million.
(n) To ensure that all citizens of the country are within easy reach of telephone service
by the year 2000 and other services which telecommunications can provide, thereafter.
It has to be explained how complex it is to run a telecommunication network. One has
to consider technology, finance, planning, maintenance, procurement, personnel,
training, to mention a few. Presently, about 70 per cent of the Nigerian population
have no access to telephone services. Despite the massive expansion of the
telecommunications network during the last decade, the national coverage remains
small, concentrated and congested.
8.1 Government Policy and Strategies on Technology Development
The technology policies and strategies recently enunciated by government are geared
to ensure the continuous and sustained upliftment of general quality of life and
national security, through self-reliance, in the shortest possible time, compatible with
the optimal utilisation of the nation's resources and cultural life patterns. The policies
are:
i) In all aspects of the day-to-day activities of the nation, advantage must be taken of
technological development.
ii) Major government projects involving imported technology shall be procured in an
"unpackaged" form.

iii) Strategic capital goods industry shall as far as possible be controlled by Nigerians.
iv) Organisations that maintain locally based research and development activities shall
receive special incentives.
v) Important national development projects shall not be based on unproven foreign
technologies.
Some of the strategies for implementing the stated policy objectives are:
i) Fostering, promoting and sustaining technology development programmes to
rehabilitate, refurbish and replace existing industries, plants and components by local
and other efforts;
ii) Intensifying programmes in technology development in both public and private
industrial, educational and service establishments;
iii) Controlling the mode of foreign investments in industries with a view to ensure
technology acquisition within a specific time frame;
iv) Ensuring that technology-based private and public enterprises maintain functional
research and development units in the country.
v) Run the electronic industries for the fabrication and manufacture of equipment and
spare-parts.
8.2 MODERNISATION OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS IN NIGERIA
As a result of advances in technology rapid changes are taking place in
telecommunications. These changes have had a profound effect on
telecommunications particularly in the areas of computerisation, digitalization and
regulatory policy.
Advances in technology are also responsible for the rapid decline in the price of
electronic computers consequently they are now in such a widespread use that
computer terminals constitute a significant proportion of the connections to the
telecommunication network. The combination of electronic computers and
telecommunications has ushered in the information age. An age where information has
become an essential commodity for the running of business and our daily life. In
several countries there is a rush to modernise telecommunications to cope with the
demands of the information age. The need for modernisation is not only to satisfy

anticipated demand, it also includes the desire to use the innovations brought about by
new technologies to provide employment opportunities and to create prosperity.
In Nigeria work started recently, on telecommunications project which would
introduce at least 130,000 digital telephone lines in Lagos. This project involves
construction of new exchanges and expansion of some existing ones. It is being
financed with a World Bank Loan.
The new exchanges which are also being located in the suburbs of Lagos are to have a
total of 5,000 digital lines.
A new transmission facility involving digitalizing about 30 repeater stations to link
Lagos state with Kano is also in the current development plan.
These projects are part of NITEL'S massive network expansion programme aimed at
modernising and extending services to more Nigerians. Other services outside Lagos,
the headquarters of NITEL, include the newly introduced 20,000 digital lines into the
telephone network in Ibadan Oyo State to cover the Western zone of the country. The
project was executed at a cost of N1.33 billion.
Other digital exchanges recently switched into the network in the South West zone are
Abeokuta Exchange with 6,000 lines, Warri Exchange with 5,000 lines and the Benin
(central) Exchange with 10,000 lines. Ilorin which is in the North West Zone was also
switched into the network with 6,000 lines. Similarly, NITEL introduced into its
networks, in 1995, a data transmission system which is known as X.25 packet
switching. The system allows for point to point and point to multi-point data
transmission with and between organisations.
The X.25 packet switching system was introduced because data telecommunications
systems have become a vital and strategic tool required to launch the country into a
new phase of growth and International relations. Plans are on to expand the X.25
system which has one node to a multi-node network to cover the whole country.
The new service was said to be introduced as a value-added network service as
allowed under the deregulation policy of the government. The new service also allows
the investment of human and material resources in the delivery of reliable and cost
effective services.
9.0 Human Resources for Information Development
Although telecommunications is a capital intensive business, proper personnel
planning and procedures are indispensable if it is to be efficiently run.

An efficient telecommunications system depends on the calibre and skill of its


managerial staff. It is vitally important to ensure a sufficient supply of managers, with
personality and intellect equal to the complex demands of telecommunications. All
potentially good managers within the organisation must be identified, and properly
developed. If good managers or functional specialists like accountants cannot be
found within the organisation, they must be brought in from outside. The
administration is advised to be prepared to provide adequate incentives (salaries,
working conditions, etc) which will attract and retain a permanent force of competent
managers and functional specialists.
The calibre of first and second line supervision is just as important as that of more
senior line management. It is a characteristic of telecommunications that it depends on
the actions of a large number of staff scattered in small and often mobile groups, who
by the quality and productivity of their work largely determine the success of the
enterprise. In these circumstances, first line supervision has a particularly important
and difficult job to do. Supervisors must be selected not just because they are
proficient in the skills needed to do the work they have to supervise, but also for their
potential as leaders and organisers of work.
In the circumstances of a developing country, it is vital that there should be adequate
facilities for training every level of staff in the work they have to do. Managers need a
thorough understanding of modern business technology, of its potential and of the
very wide range of problems to which it gives rise. Supervisors must be taught the
skills of management and organisation. Technical staff must be trained in the skills
appropriate to the kind of work they will have to do - maintaining high technology
equipment, installing and maintaining cables and so on.
In many developing countries, labour costs are relatively low, and it may be more
economical to continue to perform certain functions in a labour intensive way, rather
than to use capital intensive high technology equipment. What is important is that,
with the privatisation of NITEL services, the rate of increase in staff numbers must be
kept lower than the rate of growth of business, so that labour productivity steadily
improves. However, there must be recognition of the impact of technology and
equipment investment. Staff costs are such a large part of the operating expenses of
any telecommunication enterprises that productivity must be treated as an essential
policy objectives if the authority concerned is to run efficiently and maintain its
financial and economic viability. In addition to the general funding system, it is
recommended that NITEL should spend up to 10 per cent of its allocated funds for
local system capability development and deployment. This allocation will be used to
develop the prototypes and must incorporate controls to minimise waste. A suitable set
of guidelines for optimal utilisation of this fund are that:

i) The release of funds must be phased so as to reflect the amount of activity in the
sector, otherwise saturation or starvation could occur both leading to disastrous
consequences;
ii) Information flow must be maintained and all R & D units carefully locked into
training groups to ensure a continuous renewal of talent so as to avoid stagnation;
iii) Overheads such as buildings and other auxiliaries should be strictly controlled so
as to avoid wastage and abuse.
iv) Production facilities should be shared initially with entrepreneurs who may in fact
ultimately take over most of the R & D function for new technologies once such a
culture is entrenched.
Still on human resources development, the UN-NADAF (United Nations New Agenda
for the Development of Africa) in the 1990s requested UNESCO to play leadership
role in the areas of human resources development, capacity building including
scientific research and the transfer of technology for sustainable development,
democratic participation in the development process and the promotion and respect of
human rights. This resulted in the launching in 1989 by UNESCO, the Priority Africa
programme along the lines of emphasis outlined in the Lagos Plan of Action for the
Development of Africa (1980-2000). In pursuance of these aims, UNESCO organised
in February 1995, a conference titled "Audience Africa" designed to identify the
priorities for African development by a cross section of actors in the African scene
from government, non-governmental organisations, politicians, cultural and scientific
communities. This conference has among other achievements produced a series of
recommendations on capacity building in Africa, particularly in the crucial field of
science and technology. Earlier in 1994, UNESCO launched the International Fund
for the Technological Development in Africa with an allocation of One million dollars
as a start-up contribution. The organisation is committed to ensure "an enhanced flow
of resources from the international community to support domestic efforts in Africa."
Capacity building in Science and Technology depends on a sound base of human
resources development. A command of literacy and numeracy is a pre-condition for
successful learning in science and technology and in other fields. The key to
development that is self-reliant and sustainable is education. Given the vast expanse
of African countries and the problems of transportation facing the continent, education
can be more rapidly fostered through the installation of mass and rapid
communication systems. One of the objectives of establishing the Telecommunication
Foundation of Africa (TFA) was to assist in bringing African countries closer to the
global information society. This objective is apparently being pursued here in Nigeria
through active cooperation with networks such as the Regional Informatics Network

for Africa, a programme conceived by the Inter-governmental Information Programme


of UNESCO and which is being financed by a grant of the Italian government and by
a contribution from the Republic of Korea. The officially designated RINAF's national
node for Nigeria is based at the National Centre for Technology Management
(NACETEM) located at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. NACETEM,
through RINAF actively cooperates with and was co-founder of the Nigerian Internet
Group. UNESCO is instrumental to the establishment of both NACETEM in Nigeria
and the RINAF initiative. There is no doubt that judging from the array of continental
activities, a good foundation is being laid for the integration of Africa into the global
communication system. UNESCO's Intergovernmental Information Programme (IIP)
in its implementation of the Informafrica regional strategy has introduced informatics
into the education system in selected African countries including Nigeria. IIP has
supported the training of informatics specialists and users in collaboration with
research and training institutes and is helping to facilitate entry of young people and
women into working life. IIP plans to extend its activities under RINAF to include a
growing number of African institutions to further consolidate the joint activities of
African scientists in education and administration.
Therefore, in pursuance of its commitment to the use of informatics and on human
resources for information development efforts in education, UNESCO is also
promoting the development of a Satellite University of Science and Technology
(SUST), an inter-university network to broaden global educational exchange via
satellite broadcasting. UNESCO initiated SUST in collaboration with the National
Technology University, Colorado USA in its belief that in the long run, education via
the airwaves is a cost effective and equitable manner of delivering knowledge to the
work place and the house. SUST is being planned to produce post-graduate, scientific
and lifelong learning programmes for distribution to participating schools,
universities, homes and workplaces. To do so each site will have a satellite transmitter,
an Internet link and video production facilities. With the successful implementation of
on-going efforts in Nigeria, this country should be in a position to benefit from the
opportunities for scientific and technological manpower development which SUST
will provide given the scarcity of human resources and technical facilities available in
the country.
With the Cairo University of Egypt serving as the Arab host of SUST, Nigeria
representing 20% of Africa's population is also planning to serve as the African host
for SUST in order to bring the benefits of scientific and technological education to a
sizeable proportion of Africa and enhance the country's capacity for sustainable
economic growth.
The initiative that has led to this collaborative effort between a RINAF node and the
TFA a non-governmental organisation will certainly lead to the elaboration of

strategies that will help African countries to develop those telecommunication


infrastructures that will enhance person to person communication, electronic mail,
person to group communication and provide access to data among African scientists,
researchers as well as industries.
NITEL is currently planning to pursue the execution of a number of programmes to
strengthen the network in the midst of deregulation. The programmes are:
(a) Massive training and re-training of engineers and technologists to cope with
intensive maintenance demand.
(b) Organisation of annual national maintenance seminars and workshops and also for
systems utilization level and plan.
(c) Improvement on the present network performance indicators through responsive
customer-oriented operations procedures/guidelines with decentralized stores
(materials management) organisation.
(d) Development of skills in traffic engineering and network management.
(e) Use of fibre optic cable and satellite networks (value-added network services).
(f) Establishment of a third-level National Repairs and Calibration Centre for
equipment refurbishment repairs, consequent upon the absence of manufacturing
facilities in the country.
Closely related to the above is the need for collaboration to ensure that equipment is
compatible and of acceptable quality. To set the rules of the game in the midst of
equipment with varying standards, the NCC is empowered to seize the initiative to
define national standards for a harmonized network. Not only will systems be required
to support optional network requirements, they must also be adaptable to meeting
future services specification requirements with minimal software/firmware/hardware
upgrades or modifications.
10.0 EXAMPLES: SUCCESS CASES, NATIONAL EFFORTS, SECTORAL
EFFORTS
The achievements, to date, from these development efforts have resulted in the
establishment of the following telecommunications facilities:
(a) 227 analogue automatic telephone switching centres with an installed total
capacity of about 400,000 lines out of more than 205,000 lines have been connected:

(b) 436 terrestrial microwave relay stations, comprising 264 terminal stations and 172
repeater stations and providing the bulk of toll and trunk circuits for the national
network.
(c) a national telex network of total capacity of 12,800 lines.
(d) International telex exchange of 1,500 trunks.
(e) A co-axial cable system (960 voice channels) between Lagos and Kaduna.
(f) A domestic satellite system with three Gateways at Lanlate (Lagos), Kujama
(Kaduna) and Enugu.
(h) A submarine cable system linking Lagos with Abidjan, Dakar and Casablanca and
carrying about 10 per cent of the Lagos Gateway traffic as well as providing an
alternative route for international services when the satellite circuits fail.
One of the other major achievements of NITEL was the expansion of the
telecommunications network from 207,000 line in 1985 to over 500,000 installed lines
in 1995. The staff-to-line ratio of 180 staff to 1000 lines in 1985 progress to 14 staff to
1,000 lines in 1995. Major network expansion and modernisation projects were also
carried out within the period. Such projects have led to the:
1. Digital facilities in each station and ITSC at Enugu.
2. More than 15,000 lines Cellular Mobile Radio.
3. Celluphone for rural communications.
4. Lagos 'bound' 45,000 lines Digital local exchange at Odunlami.
5. Victoria Island earth station.
6. Joint Venture Arrangements with Digital Telecomms resulting in the formation of
Mobile Telecomms Services (MTS).
NITEL also has the following components to focus on:
1. Modernisation of the network to ensure reliability and effective network services
and performance.
2. Network expansion for improved revenue generation.

3. Provision of value-added services like voice mails.


4. Customer care
5. Detailed billing.
Following from the promulgation of decree 75 of 1992, private firms have now started
to venture into telecommunications services in Nigeria. One of such companies is the
Info Communications Ltd which works in partnership with U.S. Sprint (one of the
world's leaders in telecommunications) to provide a global data solution for the
Nigerian marketplace.
Utilizing one of the most sophisticated equipment manufactured by Alcatel, Info
Communications X.25 packet switching network provides the following services:
(a) X.25 services
- Synchronous connectivity
- Asynchronous connectivity or Dial-up
(b) Electronic Mail
- Fax delivery
- Telex delivery
- Internet mail delivery
- X.40 access to over 300 mail systems such as CompuServe Mail, AT&T mail, MCI
mail, etc.
Info Communications has already finalized discussions with U.S. sprint on the
implementation of full Internet services in Nigeria.
10.1 Electronic Connectivity in Nigeria: The Awareness Level
One example of the electronic connectivity infrastructure in Nigeria is that of the
electronic networking of the Nigerian Universities evolved from the need to improve
on the information interchange within the Nigerian University System, through the
establishment of strong, regular and reliable links between the universities and the
global academic community for the speedy and accurate exchange of information

needed to enhance the effectiveness and efficient running of the universities


particularly with regards to information on:
* Research - facilities, manpower, funds...;
* Published scientific papers - national and international;
* Conferences, seminars and workshops
* Strategic and tactical planning of universities.
In September, 1994, the National Universities Commission (NUC) set-up an
Electronic Mail (E-Mail) Committee to examine the feasibility, eventual introduction,
and full utilization of electronic mail system within and beyond the Nigerian
University System. Following its inauguration, the Committee elaborated a
methodology and a time-table for carrying out its assignment, as well as a strategy for
attaining the specific goals set for it.
A feasibility study was carried out in 1995 in eleven carefully selected Federal
Universities. The result shows that the level of computer awareness and its utilization
is above average. However, awareness of electronic communication technology is
very low while its utilization is virtually non-existent and limited to very few
individuals and departments that have linkage arrangements with international
research and funding agencies. Intra-and inter-campus communication, as well as
international communication, is heavily dependent upon regular postal and courier
services, largely due to non-existent of or unreliable telephone and telefax services.
Bulky textual material is conveyed nationally and internationally almost entirely by
regular mail. A detailed report of the survey is presented in another section of this
document
The feasibility study also revealed that there is no comprehensive Local Area Network
(LAN) installation in all the institutions investigated. The exception is the National
Universities Commission (NUC) where there is a node UNIX based LAN in place.
The virtual absence of computer networks and e-mail services in Nigerian universities
underscores the isolation of Nigerian academics, one of the serious consequences of
which is the quality of postgraduate training and research. Nigeria, an integral part of
the global village, is yet to apply her numerous resources fully in becoming an
information driven society where individual and corporate efficiency are enhanced by
the use of computers.

Computing in developed countries has since given way to the era of computer
networking - where individual computers are interconnected for greater efficiency and
better information management via telecommunication lines.
Currently, only a few countries in Africa have Internet nodes that provide full access
to all Internet services. Other countries including Nigeria are just forming local
networks first, often using Fidonet technology and then connecting into the Internet
through a central service. Figures 3, 4 and 5 show plans being currently promoted by
the National Universities Commission (NUC) to link the Nigerian University
community to the global world of information and communication.
Similarly, it is estimated that a sum of $378,940.00 will be required by the Nigerian
Internet Group (NIG) to get Nigeria fully connected into the global computer network,
Internet. This amount covers expenses to be incurred on computers and accessories,
staff, offices, equipment and telecommunications.
A breakdown of the amount showed that the highest amount of $264,500 would be
spent on one international telephone connection of a 64KB international leased line
for a period of two years. Computers, accessories on one hand, and staff, offices and
equipment on another hand, will gulp $76,849 and $37,600 respectively.
10.2 THE CABECA AND OTHER INITIATIVES
After the not too successful approach of connecting the University of Ibadan to the
Electronic Communications world with the assistance of the Capacity Building for
Electronic Communications in Africa (CABECA) of the Pan African Development
Information Systems (PADIS) of the ECA, Addis Ababa, several suggestions have
been offered as to linking up the university to the rest of the world-wide academic
community through the E-mail and through other communication facilities.
Initially there were three options open to the university. These are:
1. Accepting the offer of CABECA to link up to the Green-Net in London for which
PADIS accepted to write off all expenses incurred by the university for 6 months.
2. Utilizing the services of the Commercial Vendors (similar to utilizing the services
of the DHL. IMNL, UPS, RED STAR, IAS etc in normal postal system). In electronic
Communications there are now quite a number of these vendors. The biggest of them
all with wide coverage is the COMPUSERVE which has outlets in London, the USA
and South Africa.
Consideration of the Above Options

1. The PADIS offer was tried three times and failed. The failure of this approach was
attributed to:
i. resultant breakdown of the supplied modems due to power surge.
ii. non availability of a user manual to back up operation of the system which had in
most cases made error corrections difficult.
iii.lack of a dedicated system operator to assist users process outbound messages and
forward incoming messages to owners.
2. The second option of utilizing the services of any of the available commercial
vendors is the fastest and most reliable though it costs some money depending on
usage. In addition, the university has to be responsible for the NITEL charges for the
period it stays on line. This may not be more than 30 minutes a day of NITEL bill for
the first 3 to 6 months of usage and higher prices thereafter.
Having abandoned the above options because of operational problems, the University
of Ibadan is now linked to the internet from a computer at the Kenneth Dike Library
of the University through a link with a computer system at Rhodes University, South
Africa, which serves as the gateway to the Internet.
This linkage is a significant milestone of an on-going project to establish a campus email grid of faculties, departments and units of the University which will then hook up
to the outside world through the link.
So far, as of February 16 1995, a total of 174 calls were made within 3 months to
Rhodes University by the UI-AAUnet mail server computer.
Also, the Latunde Odeku Library, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, is
presently offering effective and readily accessible e-mail services within the university
system. The e-mail system was established in May 1995 by a UCH alumni group
based in the USA. The group donated the microcomputer, modem and software, and
pays for telephone and gateway connect charges at the USA end.
A project similar to the Odeku Library e-mail facility has also been proposed by the
Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA). The Association hopes
to make UI and up to four other institutions coordinating nodes of a network to link
medical colleges in Nigeria with a gateway in the USA. The Association plans to
provide and install equipment, train operational personnel, pay for connectivity link to
the internet.

11.0 ORGANISATIONS (PRIVATE AND PUBLIC) UTILIZING E-MAIL


SYSTEM FOR DATA COMMUNICATION
i. NITEL
While private telecommunication operators are still expected to take advantage of the
deregulated environment, NITEL remains the sole provider of public
telecommunication services in Nigeria. The preceding sections have enumerated those
services currently being offered by NITEL as the sole provider of telecommunication
facilities in Nigeria. Other organisations whose facilities are capable of providing
necessary electronic connectivity for the economic development of the country
include:
ii. NNPC (Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation)
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) currently uses optical fibre
routes for its data communications activities. One stretch of the route starts from Warri
through Abudu, Auchi, Lokoja, Abaji and Serkin Pawa to Kaduna. The other stretch
starts from Mosimi through Ore to Benin. The Lagos area offices and facilities of the
NNPC access the optical fibre route at Mosimi via a microwave link through Atlas
Cove while the horizontal segment links the vertical segment via a microwave link
from Benin to Abudu. The optical fibre and the microwave links have 140mbps and
34mbps respectively. The microwave links operate at 7GHZ. Figure 3 shows the
NNPC telecommunication routes within the country.
Terminations for interfacing with telecommunication equipment are effected at each
of the transit towns (nodes). NNPC now has an enormous bandwidth of its
comprehensive telecommunication system which it plans to share with other
organisations that may require such services. The horizontal and vertical segments of
the route will serve site interconnections in the Lagos, South West, South East, East
Central, North Central and Abuja zones conveniently.
iii. INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE (IITA),
IBADAN
Currently, IITA makes use of both INMARSAT and NITEL telecommunications links
to effect e-mail connectivity. The INMARSAT channel account for upward of 90% of
the total e-mail routings, because according to some IITA officials, the NITEL channel
is still not adequately reliable. IITA is hoping for a more reliable NITEL because the
INMARSAT link, according to some key operators of the facility, is very expensive.

The equipment for the INMARSAT link is currently estimated at about $80,000. In
addition, IITA pays $10-20 per minute to use the line, which is between 6-8 times the
NITEL rates.
iv. THE NATIONAL OIL COMPANY
The National Oil Company based in Lagos, currently uses leased lines to carry out its
data communication operations. However, because of problems currently being
encountered it is proposing switching over to VSAT which it claims, will enable it
carry out its numerous data communication activities such as:
1. Exchange of files
2. E-mail services
3. Bulletin Board Services (BBS)
4. Sharing of software
5. Centralized database system with different access levels.
The VSAT application is expected to facilitate its exchange of data across its offices
located in Kaduna, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Jos, Warri, Kano, Benin and Lagos.
The Company also realised that while optics fibre connection can be one of the most
reliable means of data communication, more so that it can last for up to 25 years and
not affected by corrosion, however the cost of laying this facility is highly prohibitive
and is only recommended for building to building connectivity only as opposed to
Wide area connectivity.
v. INFO COMMUNICATIONS, LAGOS
One other private e-mail operator, the Info communications which apart from forging
ahead in international electronic linkages with the installation of Sprint International
first node in Africa with the introduction of SprintNet X.25 services in Lagos, is
proposing to provide services to link some zones in Nigeria, namely Kaduna, Kano,
Abuja, Warri, Aba, Lagos, and Port Harcourt via the X.25 Network.
As for its international connectivity activities, it is now handling the data
communications of a number of organisations such as the Nigerian Breweries PLC,
Esso oil, Arthur Anderson Management Consultants while institutions like the
International Tropical Agriculture (IITA) at Ibadan, Coca-Cola Bottling Company,

University of Nigeria Nsukka and the University of Ibadan are initiating moves to
utilize its services. Its prposed countrywide connectivity is contained in Figure 6.
vi. CGNET
CGNET, though not based in Nigeria provides easy-to-use, worldwide electronic mail
links for Research and Non Governmental Organizations with internal (LAN-based)
electronic mail systems. This CGNET facility helps to improve and increase
communications among institutions, facilitating global collaboration. The Company
presently offers its services to a number of Organisations in Nigeria, notably the IITA.
vii. SITA
SITA owns and operates the world's largest international data network. It provides an
extensive range of telecommunications and information processing services.
It offers a complete spectrum of standard telecommunications products available on
the market. These include: managed data network services using frame relay, X.25,
SNA or airline communication protocols; X.40-based messaging; and EDI. Mobile
air-ground communications and airport services are also part of SITA's portfolio.
Users' application systems, personal computers, fax terminals, intelligent workstations
and synchronous/asynchronous terminals access SITA's network via leased lines,
public switched telephone networks (PSTN), public data networks (PDN) and Telex
networks are also adequately entered for over 200,000 display terminals, messaging
terminals and associated printers installed in 44,000 customer offices all over the
world including Nigeria for the airline information system. For organisations that
require high speeds for network access and data transport, SITA offers frame relay
advanced packet switching technology.
In addition, its X.28 Dial Access Service provides low cost access to SITA's managed
data network services for occasional users via standard telephone lines.
SITAMAIL messaging services allow users of different electronic mailing systems to
communicate with one another. Based on the X.40 standard for universal
communications, SITAMAIL provides gateways on SITA's global network which
perform all translations between the various messaging formats, quickly and
transparently. Access to SITAMAIL is gained from X.40 or proprietary electronic mail
systems working on laptops, PCs, LANs or mainframe computers.
In addition, the SITAMAIL Telex delivery service transmits E-mail messages to any
Telex user worldwide, while the SITAMAIL Fax service delivers E-mail messages to

any fax machine. The service features multi-addressing capabilities, and automatically
returns a delivery notification message to the originator.
The SITATEX messaging software package allows users to exchange files and
messages between PCs, laptops and LANs. User-friendly features make it easy to edit,
file quote and print messages, while transmission costs and times are significantly
reduced by powerful compression techniques.
12.0 THE INFRASTRUCTURE: EXISTING LOCALLY AND ACCESSIBLE
FROM ABROAD
Most of the operators listed above are institutional non commercial operators. Among
those companies which offer a range of high calibre telecommunication services such
as access to INMARSAT for full coverage of operations on marine, commercial
broadcasting, weather, fax and high AM frequencies is EXPOMA whose product,
Extrad Communication Controller (Data via Radio) is a combination of an Extrad
Modem, HF Radio Telephone SG 2000 and a micro computer system. This Facility
enables any organisation to communicate at any distance from computer to computer,
using standard HF radio communication equipment allowing fast and error-free text
and data transmission. The text and binary files that are easily transmitted include:
messages
reports
memos
inventories
worksheets
programs
powerful text editor
The system also has a software facility to automatically compress text for a faster
throughput to increase communication by as much as 80%. Because of the simplicity
of the equipment, receiving a message or file does not require an operator. Texts are
automatically stored in computer memory and outputs generated later. It comes with a
software designed for easy, routine operation even by untrained personnel. It also has
provision for confirmation of receipt of messages to be automatically sent back to
originating station.

The cost of this facilities estimated at 900,000 - 1,000,000 per site (Excluding the
micro-computer but with software and installation). It is totally independent of NITEL
but requires obtaining license to operate the radio frequency system.
13.0 STRENGTHENING THE INFORMATION DISSEMINATION
INFRASTRUCTURE
In Nigeria, there is presently a seeming anti-intellectual climate symbolised in the fear
of dissent and of those who seek to probe beyond the surface of things. One outward
manifestation of this intellectual backwardness is that the market for books is still
small and the literacy ratio low, while the most cost-effective channels for the
distribution of information material, including books, through which we can reach the
various segments of the population are yet to be created, and even the Federal and
State governments do not seem to have outlets for their publications. Yet, we need
books of all kinds and in all places to sustain the new literate who are only too easily
susceptible to relapse into functional illiteracy.
Despite the phenomenal growth in the education budget in the last three or four
decades, there is still an abysmal intellectual apathy even among the educated elite in
Nigeria, today. There is still a deplorable lack of infrastructural facilities - modern
printing and efficient postal and telecommunication machinery, in spite of several
suggestions that have been made to the Government in recent years as to how the
book and film industry can be developed, e.g., the reduction or total abolition of
import duties on books, printing and cinematographic materials, provision of state
loans and subsidies to encourage the establishment of bookshops and publishing
houses, seminars, book clubs, libraries and training facilities for those engaged in the
book and film industries - writers, publishers, producers and film stars, booksellers,
libraries, readers and viewers. So far, little has been done along these lines, but the
need is urgent if we are to raise our society out of its intellectual stupor and moral
disarray. In addition to the old battle against imperialism, for equitable terms of trade
and equal freedom of action in the international arena - which is by no means over we are today engaged in an equally vital battle for the minds of our people in the
realm of knowledge, morals and technology. This cannot be ignored, if we are to
justify our existence and claim to equality with the rest of the world.
14.0 DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION PLANNING
14.1 Introduction
In development communication, planning is a deliberate, systematic and continuous
effect to organise human activity for the efficient use of communication resources and
for the realisation of communication policies, in the context of a particular country's

development goals, means and priorities and subject to its prevailing forms of social,
economic and political organisation. Development communication planning,
therefore, must take into account the development environment and goals of the
country in which the planning takes place. In addition, the country's political ideology,
social issues, communication facilities and systems, as well as available resources
must all be properly studied before planning the communication strategy that would
suit the environment.
Unfortunately, communication is usually brought into the planning of development
programmes only as an after-thought. Emphasis in most developing countries is
always on publicity. for the authorities in such countries there is no difference
between information (provision of facts and figures) and communication (exchange of
ideas). No serious thought is usually given to the importance of communication mass, interpersonal, traditional and folk - in development. Provisions are usually made
for publicising development plans and objectives, but very little is done for feedback
and for discussions. Hence a common complaint of communication researchers and
practitioners is that communication policies and plans are too often in the hands of
those who do not know enough about communication to set up or contribute to the
communication systems that best serve the development needs of their countries.
In development communication planning, therefore, communication should not be
seen only as a tool, a supporting mechanism or an independent variable in
development. It should be viewed as an integral part of development plans, one of
whose major objectives is to create communication systems or modes that would
provide opportunity for people to have access to means of communication, and to
make use of these means in improving the quality of their lives. Therefore, in seeking
solutions to the problems of communication in development, it is imperative to first
look at the larger development process, and then at the role or roles of communication
within the larger system.
A general objective of any serious organisation would be to effectively and efficiently
provide service to its customers as and when required;and simultaneously run a viable
and profitable business to the satisfaction of both management and staff.
The present developmental status of Telecommunications (a public utility service)
cannot be assessed in isolation of the general economic trends of the country. Setting
realistic objectives depend on many factors including the Nigerian Internal and
External policies, Existing infrastructure for Telecommunication services (Internal and
External), Government Telecommunications Policy, manpower development,
Industrialisation programme and Fiscal policies.
The following points are pertinent to the Nigerian situation as of now:

i) Planning and Implementation of Telecommunications projects is promised on the


Importation of manufactured Telecomms equipment from industrialised countries.
ii) While Tenders are to standard specifications, Nigeria now purchases equipment
from the global market unlike the pre 1960 period when supplies were mainly from
the UK.
iii) Replacement of equipment is partially influenced by lack of spares to maintain
existing ones since relevant manufacturing is not done in the country.
iv) External Plants Construction is generally super-imposed on already developed
towns/cities instead of being provided for earlier as a firm infrastructure at the
preliminary stages of Civil Works development. This leads to inadequate space
provisioning and hence high susceptibility to physical interference and sometimes
frequent damage.
v) Inadequate supply of the public utility services that support Telecommunications,
e.g. water, electricity and Gas.
vi) The inability of the public security agencies to extend services to remotely located
plants sites.
vii) Inadequate facilities to guarantee continuous equipment training and retraining for
in-serving officers locally.
viii) Problems associated with introduction of new technology in the network.
ix) The need to guarantee the main frame work of the organisational structure and
policy continuity once adopted by government.
x) Natural climatic condition (temperature, humidity, etc.) unsuitable for modern
electronic Telecommunications equipment. Air conditioning of equipment
environment is necessary to obtain the ambient operating condition desired or
specified.
14.2 Service Objectives
The main service objective of NITEL is to ensure that Telecommunications facilities
are accessible to the generality of the Nigerian public (privately/public) at a cost
considered reasonable, and are efficiently operated and maintained at the lowest
practical cost to provide satisfactory and uninterrupted service as and when required.

This service objective is further addressed under the four main sections of the
Telecommunication chain.
14.3 Tariffs
The essence of encouraging liberalisation, competition, deregulation and ultimate
privatization is the envisaged end result of continuously improving efficiency and
quality of service to be enjoyed by customers for lower prices. Telecommunication is
known to be capital intensive. It is also an accepted normal business practice that
some level of profitability must be achieved else, the business would collapse.
However, in a competitive environment, market forces naturally dictate that prices
charged must be near cost of provision for survival and sustenance. The issue of tariffs
get more and more difficult by the day because the old traditions are changing, giving
way to new ones. The I.T.U. approved agreements between administrations (nations)
on International traffic settlements, which was aimed at encouraging expansion of
networks in developing nations, may no longer apply with the upsurge in International
service providers who are not committed to the traditional monopolistic arrangement.
Tariffs for all kinds of services with the associated billing administration are key
issues for management in a deregulated Telecom environment.
14.4 Spectrum management
The radio frequency spectrum like the Geostationary Satellite orbit is vital and limited
national resources in the world of telecommunications. Despite this, their accessibility
is not restricted by geographical or political frontiers neither is it depleted by use.
There is therefore need for some measure of control to avoid harmful interference to
users and ensure equitable access. Some 130 years ago in 1865 to be precise, the
International Telegraph Union was formed in Paris to address issues of Regulations in
the field of Telecommunications which was then predominantly Telegraphy as the
name implied. In later years after the discovery of Radio, the issues became more
complex and therefore required a more orderly and articulate approval at the World
Administrative Radio Conferences organised by the Radio communication sector of
the re-christened and re-structured International Telecommunication Union which,
after the second world War, became an agency of the United Nations Organisation.
The Radio regulations contain entries of allocation of giving frequency bands for the
three I.T.U. classified Regions of the world of which Africa belongs to Region 1.
Assignment of frequencies is made through the licensing process in each
administration (nation). The wide use of frequency for broadcasting, terrestrial point
to point, point to multipoint, Line of Sight Long Distance Radio Networks, VSATs
and other satellite-based systems,such as Remote Control, Search and Rescue, Paging,
Cellular as well as other Mobile Communications in General, amongst other
numerous functions, make this an essential Regulatory issue in a deregulated

telecommunication environment. More entrants into the communications field today


are taking advantage of Radio Based Systems because of the relative ease of
installation and redeployment where/when necessary and also for cost effectiveness.
15.0 AWARENESS OF THE POPULACE ON THE APPLICATIONS OF
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TO DEVELOPMENT
It was here in the continent of Africa (Nairobi-Kenya to be precise) in 1982, that the
International Telecommunication Union decided to set up an Independent
Commission for World Wide Telecommunication Development. The seventeen
member commission carried out its assignment under the chairmanship of Sir Donald
Maitland of the United Kingdom and submitted a report titled "THE MISSING
LINK" by December 1984. In the published report of January 1985, the following
observations and recommendations were made amongst several others:
(1) that the gross and growing imbalance in the distribution of telecommunications
throughout the world was not tolerable.
(2) that there were some 600 million telephones in the world then, of which three
quarters were concentrated in the nine advanced industrialised countries with the
remainder, distributed unevenly throughout the rest of the world.
(3) that the pace of technological innovation was such that inhabitants of the
industrialised world looked forward to enjoying the full benefit of the so called
"information society" by the end of the century.
(4) that in the majority of developing countries the telecommunication system was
inadequate to sustain essential services. In large tracts of territory there was no system
at all. Neither in the name of common humanity nor on ground of common interest
was such a disparity acceptable.
(5) that in pursuance of the recommendations, the overriding objectives should be to
bring all mankind within easy reach of a telephone in the early part of the next
century.
(6) that achieving this objective will require a range of actions by both the
industrialised and developing countries.
It was over ten years ago when these conclusions were reached; the pertinent question
to ask today is, what changes have taken place here in Africa where the study was
initiated, that could be regarded as a direct response to the above recommendations
amongst others. International, Regional and United Nations agencies' statistical

records reflect that while there have been marked improvement in the emerging
economies of the Far East, and, the industrialised nations that have attained universal
service making optimum use of opportunities offered by information technology,
many countries in Africa are yet to attain the I.T.U.'s minimum recommended level of
basic telephone density required for any nation.
A number of workshops had been organised recently to draw the attention of the
populace to the importance of Information Technology to development. At one of such
meetings, especially the one on the Draft of the National Policy on Information
Resources and Services held at the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON),
Topo, Badagry, Lagos State and was held under the auspices of UNESCO and the
National Library of Nigeria, February 18-20, 1991, the following recommendations
were arrived at:1. All information must be available to all people, in all formats purveyed through all
communication channels and delivered at all levels of comprehension.
2. All types of information resources and services produced in Nigeria constitute a
vital investment in the national development efforts. Such information should be
systematically collected, preserved and effectively managed as basic inputs to national
development efforts at all levels.
3. Endogenous information and indigenous knowledge must be regularly integrated
with externally generated information on Nigeria's development, as well as with
relevant information on the development of other countries.
4. Nigeria's information resources and services must be organized in space and time so
that waste is avoided or minimized. In particular, the acquisition, storage and sharing
of information resources and services must be rationalized to ensure the optimal
utilization of human, material and fiscal resources in national development.
5. Information resources in all forms - oral, book, serial, print, electronic media, etc.
must be harnessed and repackaged, using the most cost effective processing,
communication and transport technologies available to deliver appropriately targeted
information to all categories of Nigerians, and especially the illiterate and rural
population who constitute more than 80% of the population.
15.1 Awareness at the University Level
An information revolution, according to a NUC report, is underway. People all over
the world -from university professors to farmers - are using their computers linked to
the telephone to exchange messages, news, data and information over huge distances

at relatively low costs. Data and information are travelling along global information
highways, which have been carved up into electronic systems, dominated by the giant
internet system. Traffic on these systems is increasing by a phenomenal ten percent
per month. Many countries in the developed and developing areas of the world are
investing heavily in the infrastructure necessary to build, expand, and use these
information highways to accelerate or enhance their development priorities.
But, most of Africa is still struggling to become a part of these systems. Of all the
regions of the world, Africa stands the farthest removed from the emerging
Information Age; and within Africa, Nigeria is among the most remote. Consequently,
Nigerian academics, researchers, planners, administrators, business people and others
face severe obstacles in accessing the new technologies in order to communicate
among themselves and with their counterparts abroad. The negative consequences of
working in isolation are particularly serious in Nigerian universities where research
and publication activities are being judged and must continue to be judged by
universal standards.
The introduction of an e-mail project into the university system is thus aimed at
sustaining the gains of journal acquisitions achieved through the adjustment credit of
the World Bank by establishing strong, regular links between Nigerian Universities
and the global academic community. This communications are essential for any
university to fulfil its mandate in advance teaching and research. Poor communication
on the other hand not only adds to university management costs and undercuts staff
performance, it also limits quality teaching and research.
As mentioned earlier, a feasibility study, carried out by the NUC in eleven selected
Federal Universities, showed that the level of computer awareness and its utilization
in the selected universities was above average. However, awareness of electronic mail
technology is very low while its utilization is virtually non-existent and limited to
very few individuals and departments that have linkage arrangements with
international research and funding agencies. Intra-and inter-campus communication,
as well as international communication, is heavily dependent upon regular postal and
courier services, largely due to non-existent or unreliable telephone and telefax
services. Bulky textual material is conveyed nationally and internationally almost
entirely by regular mail.
Considerable actual and potential physical and human resources required to instal,
operationalize, and maintain a national e-mail system exist in Nigerian universities as
well as in NITEL (Nigerian Telecommunications Ltd). The Chief Executive of each of
the universities surveyed showed a remarkable level of enthusiasm and willingness to
champion the e-mail sense; academics and senior administrative/professional staff
considered the introduction of e-mail in Nigeria universities long overdue. The

expected benefits of an e-mail facility were well appreciated by most respondents, a


majority (52.3%) of whom reported preparedness to contribute towards its funding. In
particular, the use of e-mail was perceived as a critical factor of interactive exchange
of information, quality teaching and research, and the supervision of postgraduate
students in Nigeria.
The major conclusion of the survey was that an effective electronic communication
system for Nigerian universities is feasible and should be implemented in phases.
Apart from initial hardware costs (servers, modems etc.) and the cost of leased lines,
the envisaged annual maintenance and running costs for the proposed e-mail system
would be far below the reported running costs of the present largely inefficient and
unreliable communication systems in Nigerian universities.
Based on the firm conclusion of the survey that an e-mail project in Nigerian
universities is a feasible proposition, some preliminary ideas on its design and
implementation are briefly discussed. In particular, it is recommended amongest
others:
that effective intra and inter-faculty electronic communication (PABX) be swiftly
restored to every Nigerian university as the minimum pre-requisite for a meaningful email system which would use the same universities as Nodes;
15.1.1 AVAILABILITY AND USE OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS/COMPUTING
RESOURCES IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES.
Traditional forms of telecommunications in Nigeria have not been as effective as they
are in more developed countries. Postal mail services are relatively slow and
unreliable despite recent efforts by the Nigerian Postal Services (NIPOST) with the
introduction of the speed post. Bottlenecks in the system either due to lack of
adequate transportation facilities or low incentives to workers, result in substantial
delays in the delivery of mails.
Although Telephone services are becoming more and more reliable, especially with
the digitalization drive of NITEL (Nigerian Telecommunications), the down-times are
still very high while charges have gone up astronomically.
Although the Fascimile (Fax) machine is commonly used for transmitting textual
documents, it is not as widely used in Nigeria as would have been expected. Their
effectiveness is largely dependent on reliable, steady power supply as both sending
and receiving machines must be left on at the same time. Potential users know that the
erratic nature of the power supply from NEPA (Nigerian Electricity Power Authority)
cannot guarantee this.

Computing in the form of personal computers, has made significant inroads in


Nigerian universities, mostly in areas of word- processing, accounting, database
management and research-based applications. However, using computers to
communicate with one another, irrespective of geographical location, is yet to be a
phenomenon in Nigerian universities as in most public-sector institutions. This is
difficult to comprehend especially as it is mandatory for Federal universities in
Nigeria to have computer centres. In addition, a large number of these universities
have computer science departments, and the academics in these departments would
have been expected to be in the forefront of electronic mailing connectivity initiatives,
but presently this is not the case.
15.1.2 Computer Awareness and Usage
Most (61%) of the respondents surveyed in the above mentioned survey of 11
universities in Nigeria, reported moderate to high computer awareness, but only about
half (49%) of respondents reported moderate to high Computer usage. (Figures 7 &
8). There exists great variation between Universities in terms of their levels of
Computer awareness and usage. The overall picture is that awareness is much higher
than usage (Figure 10) reflecting, perhaps, an insufficiency of Computing facilities
and/or opportunities to use them in Universities.
15.1.3 Awareness and Use of E-mail
About half (162) of all respondents (296) reported awareness of e-mail technology,
although only 1/5th of them have used the facility (and mostly for communication
with targets outside Nigeria), as shown in Figure 9.
15.1.4 Communication Channel Used
Within Nigerian Universities, 63% of respondents reportedly communicated by using
messengers/couriers, while only 37% reportedly used electronic communication
system, such as the intercom device which is limited to part of a university such as a
faculty (26.7%) or covers the entire university (9.1%). Only 1% of respondents
expectedly, communicated by e-mail within their university communities (Figure 11).
All respondents reportedly communicated bulky textual materials by postal (80.1% or
courier services (9.9%) within Nigeria and the Nigerian University System (Figure
13).
Almost all respondents (97.6%) reportedly used traditional postal or courier methods
to covey bulky textual materials to destinations outside Nigeria (Figure 14), while
very few used Fax (2.03%) or electronic mail (0.34%) for the same purpose.

Electronic communication facilities were reportedly available for use at interuniversity and/or international levels for 68.6% of respondents (Figure 12). These
facilities consisted mainly of telephones (42.9% - of which most are analog) or radio
(17.2%). Electronic mail access was reported by only 3.0% of respondents.
15.2 RELEVANT INFRASTRUCTURAL FACILITIES
15.2.1 In another survey concerning respondents' perception regarding adequacy of
infrastructural facilities relevant to electronic communication is very low. The
facilities are viewed as non-available or inadequate for communication within the
campus (99.2%) and outside (97.4%) as shown in Tables 3.1 - 3.4. Similarly, 96% of
respondents expressed the view that available Computer facilities for E-Mail in their
Universities were unacceptably inadequate. Perception regarding ability of
Universities to maintain infrastructural facilities was, rather high (65.4%).
These depressing statistics of perception of Universities are important, but may not
reflect the true situation in the country. Instead, they may have more bearing on low
awareness and access to existing facilities which are mainly restricted to high-ranking
University officers rather than academic units. It is a fact that every Federal
University has at least one fax machine installed by NUC, and some of the
Universities had more than 30 direct telephone lines.
15.2.2 Perceived Benefits of E-mail
Some 95% of all respondents were able to perceive the benefits of E-mail for research
and/or research supervision purposes. Furthermore, 52% of all respondents were
willing to subscribe for use of the facility on an individual basis. Most respondents
(62%), however felt that the NUC, rather than individual Universities, should fund the
E-mail project.
15.3 Awareness at the Federal Level
The Federal Government of Nigeria created, in 1979, the Ministry of Science and
Technology to give leadership and direction to development of socio-economic wellbeing. Specifically, the ministry was mandated to coordinate and undertake scientific
and technological research and development. These activities involve technological
innovation, including integrating foreign technologies into local culture and upgrading
indigenous technology, human resource development for the effective use of
knowledge to create wealth and improve the quality of life, documentation and
dissemination of related information, and promotion of international cooperation in
science and technology. In order to perform directional and coordinational roles, the

ministry formulated the Science and Technology Policy in 1986, which was revised
and launched in 1989. The Science and Technology policy was aimed at:
1. increasing public awareness in science and technology and vital role in national
development and well-being;
2. directing science and technology efforts along identified national goals;
3. promoting the translation of science and technology results into actual goods and
services;
4. creating, increasing and maintaining an indigenous science and technology base
through research and development;
5. motivating creative output in science and technology;
6. increasing and strengthening theoretical and practical scientific base in the society;
and
7. increasing and strengthening the technological base of the Nation.
Towards achieving these policy objectives, the science and technology policy
document identified strategies for implementation of the policy.
These strategies and institutional arrangements are as follows:
(a) Federal Ministry of Science and Technology is to supervise the twenty-six research
institutions.
(b) National Consultative Committee on Industrial Research (NCCIR) is to encourage
exchange of views between the public and private sectors and to facilitate feedbacks
from end-users of science and technology research and Federal Ministry of Science
and Technology. Membership includes representatives of banks and other financial
institutions, chambers of commerce, manufacturers' associations, research institutions,
universities, professional associations and relevant government agencies.
(c) National Office of Industrial Property (NOIP) was established in 1979 to:1. encourage more efficient process for the identification and selection of foreign
technology:
2. develop skills of Nigerians entering into partnership contract with foreigners for
technology transfer;

3. register all existing technology contracts in Nigeria;


4. monitor the execution of contracts registered in Nigeria;
5. survey existing technology; and
6. operate a databank on design and engineering consultancy organisations in Nigeria.
(d) State Technology Demonstration Centres (STDEC) were to be established in each
state to have direct links with the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology and its
agencies and with industrial organisations. Their functions were to provide extension
services to industries in the local areas and establish demonstration units on selected
viable technologies in critical areas of concern.
(e) Science and Technology Documentation Centre (STDC) at Abuja was also
established and mandated to set up databases on various aspects of science and
technology linked to Research Institutes and Universities. Its other functions include:
1. maintenance of a national science and technology library; and
2. collection, classification, storage, publication and dissemination of data on science
and technology manpower available in Nigeria, Nigerians involved in science and
technology internationally, science and technology project reports undertaken in
Nigeria, research activities in all sectors of the economy and information on existing
technologies in the key areas.
(f) Industrial Development Coordinating Committee (IDCC) was established under
the Federal Ministry of Industries in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of
Science and Technology. The operational concepts of self-sustaining industrialisation
by the IDCC include:1. identifying and establishing core industries;
2. reassessing industrial strategies towards a local resource-based industrialisation;
and
3. creating internal engines of growth.
The IDCC, in conjunction with UNIDO, evolved the Strategic Management of
Industrial Development (SMID). The framework for this SMID is the establishment of
the National Committee on Industrial Development (NCID). NCID develops
strategies for each sub-system before sanctioning by government and monitors

implementation; progress and problems are noted and, where necessary, addressed
immediately. Below the NCID are strategic consultative groups - one for each
identified priority sub-system.
The Strategic Consultative Group (SCG) is made up of representatives of the various
actors within the defined network of relations. Their main functions according to
NCID (1990) are to:1. analyze the specific problems and constraints of their sub-system;
2. analyze the opportunities that exist in domestic and foreign markets;
3. develop a strategic direction for the sub-system;
4. pin-point the type of supportive programmes needed to implement the adopted
strategy;
5. work out a programme of action.
(g) Co-operative arrangement was established between research institutions,
universities and polytechnics.
(h) Four existing centres of excellence in technology attached to universities, i.e.
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; Obafemi Awolowo University,Ile Ife; University of
Nigeria, Nsukka, and the Uthman Danfodio University, Sokoto were established to
implement R&D activities in various sectors of technological development.
Government on its part has continued to foster the growth of Science and Technology
by removing some of the constraints that hamper technological development in the
country. On July 18th, 1990, the National Committee on Engineering Infrastructure
(NACENI) comprising 150 members drawn from State and Federal Ministries, the
organised private sector, the professional organizations, higher institutions, research
institutes etc, was set up.
16.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Since effective maintenance of any telecommunication outfits dependent on
availability of spare parts, it is recommended that all future information and
telecommunications projects should be aligned to provide for spare-parts production
in the country. In this respect, efforts should be made to build into contract agreements
on imported technologies, the possibility of Nigerians being involved in the assembly
of such technologies abroad. Such involvement will allow Nigerians to gain detailed

insight into the internal arrangements and working of the equipment. The maintenance
schedule of any future project should be clearly assigned to Nigerians.
There is an urgent need for equipment standardisation in the country. This will ease
the manufacture of spare parts and reduce maintenance cost. Also maintenance
personnel should be provided with adequate tools and they should be located
sufficiently close to the facilities they are to maintain. The third important
consideration in the development process is the availability of core industries for the
fabrication and manufacture of equipment and spare parts.
In Nigeria today we have a Federal Ministry of Science and Technology charged with
the responsibility of promoting scientific and technological activities in the country.
For the country to develop technologically we must all agree to use this government
organ effectively. Also the Universities Research Institutes, Industries, Entrepreneurs
and private organisations - all have a role to ensure that the prerequisites for
meaningful technology development are available in the country.
The Recommendations for a powerful and efficient telecommunications in Nigeria
can be summed up as follows:
(1) that Operation and Maintenance Strategy be premised on a structural organisation
that assigns full responsibility to zonal/state administration working directly with the
Central office of the administration.
(2) That the service objective shall be to provide optimum effective and efficient
telecommunications service within the framework of available resources at the lowest
cost.
(3) That a unified operational and maintenance pattern in the zones/states should be
guaranteed by the issuance of guidelines from the Headquarters of the administration
to the zones/states for compliance.
(4) That periodic returns be made at specified times from the zones/states to
Headquarters for analysis and general management of overall information.
(5) The Headquarters set out a list of accepted performance indicators to which would
be related the analysis of returns from the zones/states as a yardstick for measurement
of activities and guide in taking decision on improvement.
(6) That a network of maintenance centres be set up as the main support to operational
routine maintenance which is mainly based on replacement of modules to cut down on
outage periods.

(7) That there be a National Maintenance Centre as the hierarchy, supported by


zonal/state maintenance Centres and mobile units for prompt attention to remote
locations.
(8) That support Services' - (Stores and Workshops) - administration and operations be
structured in conformity with (1) above and easily accessible by field operation and
maintenance staffs.
(9) That training in the form of Appreciation courses, Refresher courses, Skill
Development, Safety, Management, Introductory courses, etc., should be intensified
and programmed to suit operations and maintenance needs on a continuous basis.
(10) That records are vital Operational and Maintenance tools, be they personnel
records, training records, subscribers records, Technical Handbook records,
Equipment or Assets' etc. The ultimate should be a centralised computer record
location from which information could be retrieved or updated on any subject matter
relating to Operations and Maintenance.
(11) That in all these Operation and Maintenance Strategy processes, auditing as a
vital organ to check excesses and streamline operations should be taken cognisance of
Technical Audit, Store Audit and Personnel Audit shall be undertaken by the
Headquarters' team periodically for accountability.
(12) That customer services locations as an all-purpose centre for Telecommunications
services should be strategically located for easy reach of the public at large.
(13) That a multidisciplinary team be formed to work on the standardisation of
telecommunication equipment modules, tools and test gears for operations in the
Nigerian market.
(14) That the planning and Implementation groups take advantage of Operational and
Maintenance group experience in finalising designs and project acceptance procedures
to minimise operational and maintenance difficulties after commissioning.
It has been argued that the growth of Information Technology could both facilitate and
complicate the job of governing; facilitate by making available to decision makers
vastly expanded resources of timely information and complicate by vastly expanding
the number of people who would be informed about important issues and who will
inevitably want to play a role in deciding. However, any seeming disadvantage should
be weighed against the numerous advantages derivable from its application.

The recent competitive environment of telecommunications which allows more than


one field operator must of necessity attract standards and rules of operation for
orderliness, effectiveness and efficiency. The flexibility of choice open to customers
also call for a wide interconnecting boundary between operators and a specific level
of quality of service to be attained by all to avoid harmful effects on other operators
and the public being served at large. There is therefore need for an effective
monitoring and enforcement mechanism in the structural frame work of managing
telecommunications in a liberalised environment. Furthermore, penalties applicable to
violation of rules must be commensurate and promptly applied to deter violators. The
monitoring and enforcement unit could be structured within the Regulatory Institution
or otherwise, such responsibility could be devolved on existing law enforcement
agencies in the land. The instrument establishing the Regulatory Institution by
government would, along with the statement of mission, determine the position in the
hierarchy of governance where the supposedly autonomous and independent
Regulatory body would be and at the same time, define specific issues to be addressed
which may, or may not, include enforcement of rules and application of penalties.
It is obvious from all stated earlier, that Information Technology management in a
Deregulated Telecommunications environment would primarily revolve around a
strong Regulatory Institution in the nation. In a liberalised setting for competition
between operators, service providers, content assemblers and disseminators as well as
devices retailers and manufacturers, an independent and neutral body to set the rules
of the game as well as apply and monitor them is a prerequisite in such a pluralistic
scenario. There is need therefore for the following:
(1) A clear statement of mission of the Regulatory Institution by Government from the
outset.
(2) A legal instrument defining the Regulator's powers, rights and obligations and
equally the rights and obligations of licensees and the established Public
Telecommunications Operators that are on the field.
(3) Establishment of the relative position of the regulator to other arms of
Government, its linkages and working methods.
(4) Putting in place significant resources in terms of men, materials and money to
enhance the Regulatory entity's performance.
The need to keep abreast with technological advancement, especially in this era of
rapid obsolescence of equipment due to intensified research activities need not be
emphasised. The regulatory Institution must be sufficiently equipped to carry out its

Type approval Tests and standardisation functions and also be financially capable of
hiring high calibre staff to perform these and other licensing functions.
The Nigerian government has a crucial role to play in nurturing rapid technology
progress, as well as rapid application of new technologies in the marketplace. In the
field of Information Technology, the government has to establish a clear set of
national objectives - such as universal services, technological leadership and
broadband capability into all population centres, through a comprehensive and up-todate National Policy for Telecommunications and Information Technology.
Government should also promote private sector investment, continue to improve the
management of radio frequency spectrum, and ensure that information resources are
available to all at affordable prices. Finally, Government needs to give due
consideration to the needs of the rural areas for new information services in order to
reduce the incidence of rural to urban migration.
There is also a need for Standard Organizations in African countries and the rest of the
key actors to liaise and strategically plan and elaborate the technical specifications of
the industry.
In Europe, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), officially
recognized by the European Union (EU) as the standards body for
telecommunications, is a leader in its domain. It is also responsible for standardization
in the overlapping areas in information technology and broadcasting in collaboration
with other concerned organization.
The Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), also in its own rights, is empowered
among other things, to prepare standards for products and processes and to ensure
compliance with the Federal Government policies on Standardization and Quality
control for both locally manufactured goods and imported products throughout the
country. It is noteworthy that the decree establishing the Nigerian Communications
Commission (NCC) specifies as its function, the setting up of technical standards for
the telecommunications industry. However, to ensure coordination and clarity where
required, NCC relates with SON and other agencies in areas of common interest e.g.
safety regulations and environmental hazards. Just as there is no single formula for the
overall structure of a society or its relation to other societies, so there is no single
formula for the internal structure of a national communication policy. It all depends on
a country's established tradition of communication organisation, its stage of
development, and what aspects of the general societal activities and goals are felt
more convenient to be promoted through a deliberately designed communication
policy at any particular point in time.

If there is any one guiding principle it is that national communication policies are
creative activities that must respond at all time to the dynamics of their societies, to
the fundamental objectives and directive principles of their states and to the particular
human values that a nation wishes to project as her identifying characteristics in the
community of nations. It is the lack of such a coherent set of principles and norms to
guide communication systems of most developing nations, including Nigeria, that is
invariably related to the inadequate development of their communicative capacities
and the appropriate utilisation of the resources of modern communication for
development. This is also related to some undesirable behaviour tendencies among
Third World communication practitioners which often earn for them charges of lack of
patriotism from their respective countries' leaders.
The current attempt by Nigeria to brace up to the need to formulate a comprehensive
national communication policy should be seen not only as an effort to come to grips
with the myriad of problems of socio-economic development, structural imbalances
and integration of its multi-religious population into the mainstream of the life of the
nation, but perhaps, equally important it is an effort to exploit its rich but latent
communicative resources to forge a credible and potent foreign relations.
A comprehensive National Policy must address itself to matters relating to the
following communication sub-systems and other media-related matters in order to
arrive at a coordinated, coherent statement that embraces all the constituents of the
system as a whole;
1. The print media - newspapers, magazines, books.
2. The electronic media - radio, television, video, cinema, other audiovisual materials
and information.
3. Telecommunications - the telephone; satellite broadcasting.
4. The traditional media - the drums, the theatre, folk opera, singers, traditional
festivals, the market, etc.
5. Others - libraries, communication training, News Agencies, Regional/International
co-operation, etc.
Policy objectives will have to be determined on the basis of answers supplied to such
issues raised in respect to the different media.
Dr. G.A. Alabi March 1996

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