Funds sought to revive telecoms in northeast Nigeria

About US$5 million (N1 573 billion) is required to set up a telecommunications infrastructure and coordinate humanitarian projects in the terror-prone northeast Nigeria.

This was according to the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC), which is at the forefront of efforts to raise funds.

Its requirements for the Borno and Yobe States is US$ 4.9 million, of which US$ 1.2 million has already been received.

“ETS is actively engaging with local partners to seek further funding opportunities,” said a spokesperson.

The two states are among the worst affected by the crisis, alongside Adamawa.

Among other projects, ETS also aims to revive are the upgrade of the existing United Nations security communications system to support safety and security of humanitarians, including an upgrade of the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) Communications Centre (COMCEN) in Maiduguri.

Other objectives include the provision of security telecommunications services in some common operational areas in Maiduguri and Damaturu, the Borno and Yobe capitals respectively.

ETS said connectivity and security telecommunications services would be deployed at identified common operational hubs across Borno and Yobe for shared humanitarian use, in line with the wider humanitarian response plan.

Security telecommunications and connectivity equipment have been prepositioned in Gwoza to deploy vital communications services at this camp before the end of the month.

Telecommunication services are almost zero in northeast Nigeria following destruction by Boko Haram.

– ANA-CAJ

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