The House of Representatives has initiated a move to offer free internet services in selected public places for Nigerians. A bill titled “An Act to provide the legal framework for the free internet access programme in selected public places in Nigeria and for other related matters” was passed during its first reading. The bill emphasizes the importance of information and communications technology in nation-building and aims to ensure availability and accessibility to reliable and secure internet access.
Under the proposed law, public places like government offices, educational institutions, hospitals, security barracks, parks, libraries, airports, seaports, and transport terminals would be covered. Users connecting to public internet access points would not be charged any fees, and the service would be separate from backend systems. Technical restrictions would only be applied in cases of technical risks that cannot be resolved through regular means.
The bill entrusts the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) with setting standards and selecting public places for the program rollout. NCC, NITDA, Nigerian Satellite Communications Limited, and Nigerian Internet Group are designated as leading agencies for implementing the Act.
The bill mandates NCC and NITDA to develop a comprehensive plan within one year for the effective implementation of the program. They are required to collaborate with various entities to integrate the plan with relevant agencies and ensure timely execution. The minimum internet speed per user is set at two megabytes per second as per the National Broadband Plan.
Partnerships with the private sector are encouraged to improve service delivery. NCC and NITDA may collaborate with private sector partners to offer supplemental internet access for a reasonable fee in areas with program facilities. Private service providers are advised to exchange data tariffs through designated exchanges to enhance access and reduce costs.