Omobola Johnson, Nigeria's minister of communication technology has announced the country needs a total of USD3.7 billion in order to make broadband internet access available to all Nigerians especially those that are underserved.

According to the minister, a major drawback to bridging Nigeria's broadband gap was late transformation of the telecommunications industry which she said did not commence until the year 2000.

She added the government became fully committed to the issue of broadband when it created the Communication Technology Ministry and was supported by the strategic decision of the regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to pursue an aggressive broadband deployment.

Johnson added that Nigeria's National Broadband Plan 2013-2018 which defines clear roadmap for the industry and responsibility for stakeholders was released two years ago and a major component of the plan is the role of the NCC in facilitating growth in the sector.

She said: "Supported by the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, and in fulfilment of its assigned role in the Broadband Plan, the NCC has lined up series of new licensing to accelerate broadband growth in the country and reduce cost of access. To increase the ability of mobile operators to serve more Nigerians, plans were recently announced to auction spectrum in the 2.6 GHz band."

She also spoke on the challenges to government's efforts to creating digital citizens through the pervasive spread of broadband, which she said include right of way, multiple taxation, encouraging the demand side by ensuring people adopt the technology, cost of access to infrastructure, and the challenge of local content among others.

In his remark, the chief executive of the NCC, Dr Eugene Juwah said broadband is going to restructure the Nigerian telecoms industry and by extension the nation's IT industry.

"It is going to move us from analogue lifestyle to a complete digital lifestyle. If we don't do it now, we shall be left behind. This is why it is timely to the objective of the NCC and to me as the chief executive that we start it right away and implement it without delay with all the resources that government has given to us," Juwah said.