Reps move to provide free internet access in public places

The Nigerian House of Representatives has initiated efforts to implement free internet services in public areas, including hospitals.

This is coming after the first reading of a bill titled “An Act to establish the legal framework for a free internet access program in designated public places across Nigeria.”

The bill was introduced by Mr. Abubakar Kusada (Kankia/Ingawa/Kusada Federal Constituency, Katsina State) and seeks to improve access to dependable and secure internet services nationwide.

Public places covered under the proposed law include government offices, schools, hospitals, police and military barracks, public parks, airports, and transport terminals.

The bill guarantees that users will not incur any fees and requires that technical solutions focus on user-friendly access while also tackling security issues.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) are to lead the implementation, working with other relevant agencies to develop a comprehensive plan for the rollout within a year of the bill’s commencement.

The bill encourages partnerships with the private sector to enhance service delivery, with a minimum internet speed of 2 Mbps guaranteed for users.