By Frank Momoh
The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, MTN, Airtel, Glo and other mobile operators
have commenced engagement on the draft on Nigeria Mobile Data policy prepared by the National Technical Working Group (NTWG).
The meeting which was held through virtual platform recently involved security agencies, academia and Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) held recently.
The Permanent Secretary, of the Ministry Mr. Musa Istifanus, in his address at the stakeholders meeting said the objective of the National Mobile Big Data Analytics Program is to enable diverse stakeholders within and outside Nigeria to derive value from the large volume of Mobile Positioning Data (MPD) which is in the custody of the licensed mobile network operators in Nigeria.
Istifanus, said: “Mobile Big Data possess massive benefits for the public good, including arming statistical bodies with new statistical data and insights.”
He added that the ministry has taken steps towards realizing these benefits by setting up a National Technical Working Group (NTWG) to articulate a roadmap for the development and use of MPD for official statistics as well as other benefits”.
The draft policy he explained was prepared by the National Technical Working Group (NTWG), on the Mobile Big Data under auspices of the National Mobile Big Data Analytics Program of the Ministry which membership includes regulators, MNOs, security agencies and several Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) that will benefit from the results of mobile big data analytics.
In a remark, the representative of Airtel, Mr. Ifeloju Alakija commended the Ministry for initiating the policy which would help diversify Nigeria Gross Domestic Product (GDP) urging the committee to expand and broaden the scope to include the Over the Top (OTT) players, Banks, Universities, and MDAs.
Mr. Anas Galadima of MTN praised the ministry for its foresight in the development of the policy that would improve the sector adding that its organization is excited that the government is moving at a speed of light to respond to emerging technology.
In his own remark, the representative of the Nigeria Governor Forum (NGF), Mr. Heman Bassi said the Forum is more concerned about the poor and vulnerable Nigerians and how they can access and deploy mobile big data for their daily lives.