Nigeria’s cabinet has approved N24.2 billion to provide internet facilities at 20 airports, some learning institutions and markets nationwide.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, disclosed this when he briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to him, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) will spearhead the provision of internet facilities at the designated airports and institutions.

“Internet will be provided in 20 selected airports in Nigeria and higher institutions of learning, as well as some markets to support micro, small and medium enterprises.

”A contract was awarded for the provision of broadband in some selected airports. Twenty of them will be covered in the project’s first phase.

”You have three airports in each geo-political zone.

”In the South-West, you have two in Lagos State, one in Ondo State; South-East, you have Imo, Anambra, and Enugu states will benefit; Rivers and Akwa-Ibom States for South-South.

”North-Central has the Federal Capital Territory and Kwara States; Kano, Sokoto and Kebbi states will benefit from the North-West, while Borno, Adamawa and Gombe States will benefit from the North-East Region.”

Mr Pantami said internet broadband would be free for passengers coming to the airports, adding that a sustainability model has been developed to effectively maintain the facilities.

He also announced that 43 higher learning institutions would be linked to the internet facility.

“Some of them are universities, some polytechnics and the price for the contract which covers the airports and institutions of learning is N18.95 billion.

”The second approval was for the provision of broadband to some selected markets at the cost of N5.25 billion.

”The total for both memos is N24.20 billion, and the project is going to be implemented by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC),” he explained.

Also addressing the correspondents, the Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi, revealed that the council approved N41.4 billion to construct a Centre of Excellence for environmental restoration in the Kana Local Government Area of Rivers.

According to him, the centre is to facilitate an efficient and cost-effective approach to contamination management and environmental restoration and provide training on environmental remediation.

The minister added that the council also approved N18.3 billion for the construction of a specialist hospital for the people of Ogoni in Rivers.

(NAN)