Gov Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos state on Friday said government was planning to implement policies in ICT sector to make it a choice destination for local and foreign investors.

Ambode, who was represented by Mrs Gbemi Bolarinwa, Head of Training Department, Ministry of Science and Technology, spoke at the 2015 Nigeria Telecom Impact CEO Forum held in Lagos.

“Telecommunication sector in Nigeria has experienced phenomenal growth since 2001 as a consequence of the deregulation policy within the period of less than 15 years.

“Access to mobile telecoms has increased from 400,000 subscribers to over 150 million; this remarkable story has continued to be a reference point by advocates of deregulation policy.

“This is no doubt that the industry potential have not been optimally utilised,” he said.

Ambode added that telecoms sector contribution to the GDP ranged from 7.4 per cent to 8.9 per cent between 2010 to 2015.

He said that the development was not the true reflection of the capacity of the industry, saying that the performance could be significantly improved.

He said that the present administration was committed to address the challenges facing the sector.

Mr Ernest Ndukwe, the former Vice Chairman Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), said that the state had to play a significant role in developing ICT in the country.

Ndukwe said that Lagos state had to be at the fore front of ICT development for others to follow.

“There should be cable infrastructure around the state to enhance development and create data in all sector like Agriculture, Health and Education.

”The industry has many potential to enable it contribute to the growth of GDP,” he said.

Ndukwe added that it was important for the both the state and federal government to create an enabling environment for ICT sector where investors would be protected.

He said that government needed some private sectors to involve in some certain businesses to fastrack development.

“Government should establish regulators that would monitor them in order for people not to be paying for service they did not get, like in power sector,” he said.

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