A statement by the ministry in Abuja, quoted the minister as saying that Nigeria's achievements had been acknowledged globally.
According to the statement, the minister spoke at a radio communication conference in Geneva.
"We have, in place, a National Communications Act 2003 that has given legal backing for a strong independent regulator for the telecommunications industry," he said.
He said a frequency management council, which includes stakeholders in frequency spectrum utilisation, had been put in place.
"This council has developed a frequency spectrum management policy with necessary regulations for the country".
"An investor friendly environment has been established such that the investment to the industry has grown tremendously from 2002 to date," he said.
According to him, the market potentials had increased from 500,000 in 2002, to more than 40 million as at today.
He said Nigeria had been acclaimed as one of the fastest growing mobile markets in the world.
"A disaster monitoring satellite, as well as a communications satellite, have been launched.
"We have embarked on a comprehensive Rural Telephony Scheme, to ensure that the under-served and unreached areas are included in the information society.
"A National Information, Communications and Education Project (NICEP) has also been embarked upon, " he said.
According to Odey, a national internet exchange Point was being established to improve Internet penetration, just as the Computer-for-All-Nigerians Initiative (CANI) was in place.
He said that an Africa regional office of the digital solidarity fund had been established in Abuja, in fulfillment of a pledge by Nigeria during the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) process.
"Initiatives in e-health and tele-medicine are being encouraged, while Wire Nigeria (WIN) and State Accelerated Broadband Initiative (SABI) projects, to improve on broadband availability, are in place," he said.
He also said Nigeria, as a member of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), recognises the need to have an efficient and vibrant union, where member nations have equal rights and opportunities.
According to him, Nigeria believed that it was absolutely necessary for ITU to expand its mandate, to ensure that issues assigned to it were well covered.
Quelle/Source: AllAfrica, 26.10.2007
