The Federal Government has launched National Broadband Alliance Association of Nigeria (NBAN) to increase broadband penetration across the country.

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, who launched the alliance in Lagos in Tuesday, said the alliance was billed to increase broadband penetration to more than 70 percent by 2027 up from current 42 percent.

Tijani, who was represented by the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, added that the alliance would also increase investment in broadband by 500 percent by 2027.

“NBAN is a response to Nigeria’s low broadband penetration and it launch would increase broadband penetration and take it beyond 70 percent by 2027. It would also drive down the cost of internet in the country”, the minister said.

He added that the NBAN launch would also reduce the number of unbanked Nigerians as the alliance would enable millions of Nigerians in the rural areas to open banks accounts via online banking.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr Maida, said the NCC would continue to make digital economy profitable to all Nigerians.

Maida added that digital economy is a wealth enabler and NCC would make it easy for Nigerians, especially the youths, to use digital skills to create wealth.