- By Halimah Olamide
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has told the present government to do the right things so it can get the funds needed for the development of the country.
Obasanjo said the money to develop Nigeria “is out there” if only those in authorities set their priorities right.
Obasanjo was speaking at the unveiling of a book The Catalyst, written by the immediate former Editor of The PUNCH, Mr. Dayo Oketola.
The book delves into the journey of the Information Communication Technology in Nigeria which berthed under the administration of the former President.
Obasanjo recalled how his administration changed the narratives by auctioning telecoms licenses in the early part of his administration, an initiative that formed the bedrock of today’s boom in the telecoms sector and impacted on the entire spheres of the economy.
Obasanjo recalled that there was an initial attempt to give away the licenses at some ridiculous rates as low as $3m a move his government thwarted making MTN, Econet and globacom to pay about $280m for their licenses.
“And that was why we were able to do what we were able to do that time. So, I have always said, the money to develop Nigeria is out there. You only have to do the right thing,” Obasanjo said
Obasanjo congratulated Oketola for putting the book together as part of documentations of the efforts of his era in government.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Director of the Nigerian Communication Commission, Nnenna Ukhoha lamented what she called the continued vandalisaation of in the telecom sector; asking Nigerians to speak out when they see damages.
Ukhoha said miscreants cause series of damages to telecoms infrastructure adding that these add to the challenges being faced by service providers.
Speaking, Oketola said he put the book together to ensure that the sector’s body of literature is enriched.
He advised journalists to write books on the sectors covered by them adding that this would help the society.