Gov Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, is seeking collaboration with the Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB) to boost security, e-governance, youth capacity development, and others in the state.
The governor made this known when he went on an orientation tour of the organisation’s Corporate headquarters in Abuja on Monday.
While highlighting some of the areas in which he desired possible collaboration, Mutfwang stressed that a lot could be done with the presence of the organisation in the country, which had, hitherto, not been exploited.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Galaxy Backbone Ltd. is an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) service provider, with focus on internet connectivity, telecommunications services, hosting services, among others.
“To start with, I find it very unfortunate that at my level I do not know about the operations of this institution.
“I can guarantee you that a lot of my colleagues, as governors and former governors, know next to nothing about what is happening in this magnificent building that houses very critical national assets.
“Northern Nigeria today is plagued by major challenge of security, and so, this is one area I think GBB can come in and develop capacity,” the governor said.
Mutfwang decried the audacity with which criminals use the telephone for their activities, saying that it was time for the nation to shut them down.
He noted that Plateau needed all the ICT assistance that it could get as security infrastructure.
“How do you support the security infrastructure? Some of us at the state level acquired some security platforms.
“We have invested in technology for security such as the use of drones and other apparatuses, we need all the adequate ICT assistance we can get in that area.
“Also, in the area of data coverage like you mentioned earlier, we are currently in the process of reviewing the greater Jos master plan where your expertise will also be needed,” he said.
Gov. Mutfwang stressed that there was a lot the state could offer in the area of energy, agriculture, ICT, and youth development.
“Apart from our natural advantage in weather, we are planning that in the next two years we will be the next seller of energy due to our strategic location. We want to delve into hydro, solar energy sources, among others.
“We are among the top three states in Nigeria that have the fastest capacity of developing energy, so we are leveraging on your collaboration to develop the energy sector which is very critical to us.
The governor added that the state was also in the process of improving its Geographic Information System for land administration.
He said that the state was trying to cut down on the cost of governance, adding that collaboration with GBB would go a long way in helping to reduce its budgetary expenses.
On his part, Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, the Managing Director, GBB, commended the governor for the visit, and pledged his organisation’s utmost support to Plateau’s progress and development.
Adeyanju said that the organisation would do all within its power to support the governor in delivering good governance to his state.
“Your presence here reaffirms the growing partnership between Plateau State and Galaxy Backbone, and we are excited about the transformative opportunities this collaboration represents.
“We are committed to supporting Plateau’s digital transformation journey by delivering robust digital infrastructure, state-of-the-art cloud solutions, and seamless connectivity among other services.
“With an extensive fibre network spanning 28 states, we are well-positioned to provide the digital tools needed to drive innovation, efficiency, and transparency in governance and service delivery.
Adeyanju said that the organisation had identified several key areas of partnership, which included collocation and connectivity services, enhanced digital security, and capacity building and training.
Other areas of partnership, he said, are government cloud platform, e-government solutions among others.(NAN)
