The Nigerian government has approved over N650 million (N653,886,584) for the purchase of hi-tech equipment to monitor frequencies in the country, especially in the Southeastern part.
This was disclosed by the communication minister, Isa Pantami, at the end of Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting presided by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, sort the approval of council for deploying hybrid spectrum monitoring system, most importantly to focus on the south eastern zone of the country,” he said.
“From January to August 2020, within the period of eight months, we discovered 320 frequencies being used all over the country and of this 320, one hundred and six were illegal.”
Mr Pantami said the need to buy the monitoring equipment was also informed by security considerations.
“This is very worrisome because the usage of this illegal spectrum or frequencies will compromise our security and safety in the country.
“It is because of the agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari, on promoting security that we came up with this initiative of monitoring the usage of frequencies and uncover the legal and the illegal ones.
“For the legal ones, it is to ensure they renew their licenses annually and for the illegal ones, necessary actions are being taken according to the gravity of the offense.”
Mr Pantami said the focus on the Southeast was because it is the least monitored part of the country.
