The Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ericsson on the Fifth Generation (5G) technology development, deployment, and innovation.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, signed the MoU on behalf of Nigeria while the Country Manager for Ericsson Nigeria, Mr. Peter Olusoji Ogundele, signed for the company.
The MoU which was signed at the Ericsson’s Global Headquarters Research and Development lab in Kista, North of Stockholm was witnessed by the Vice-President, Kashim Shettima.
Ericsson Senior Vice President and Head of Business Area Middle East and Africa, Mr. Patrick Johansson, Mr. Patrick Johansson, was also at the event.
Earlier, the company conducted Shettima on a demonstration-tour of its mobile communications infrastructure solutions.
The company also made a presentation to the Vice President about its 5G technology evolution, radio spectrum matters and standardisation as well as Cyber and Network Security by Ericsson professionals.
Speaking after the presentation, Shettima asked the company about the possibility of deploying its 5G technology to help Nigeria improve the security of its oil facilities.
He said: “What value can you add to us? Especially on the security of oil facilities, and oil pipelines. How can you come in with 5G to secure the oil pipelines, and address the issue of oil theft and vandalisation of the pipelines?
“The quantum of oil theft that is lifted is very crucial for economic planning and everything.”
On his part, Tijani said the signing of the MoU would enable Nigeria to make the most use of 5G technologies in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The minister said: “So we signed the MoU to set up an innovation lab with Ericsson, and the focus of that lab will be to come up with applications that are based on 5G technology.
“For things in agriculture, mining, and in some cases in education as well for the general usage of connectivity to improve the quality of lives for our people.
“The Renewed Hope Agenda, in particular, goes into what we are trying to do with the reforms.
“The reforms aim to diversify our economy and we cannot diversify our economy without digital technology.
“With this MoU, we can strengthen the state of connectivity, particularly 5G, you know Nigeria is already one of the few countries with 5G on the continent.”
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