BY LAIDE AKINBOADE

ABUJA—Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, yesterday expressed frustration that only 58 percent of Nigerians had mobile penetration.

She also said Information Communication Technology, ICT, in 2011 contributed over five percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP.

The minister, who spoke at the Ministerial Platform, said Nigeria’s mobile penetration level was a far cry from the 93 percent penetration in Algeria; South Africa, 92%; Gabon, 89 % and Tunisia, 83%.

The minister also said only 3% of Nigeria’s population of over 160 million subscribed to the internet, while only 33% had internet penetration; 6% of broadband penetration, with an average internet download speed of 1.38Mbps.

According to her, ”most Nigerians are excluded from the growth and development that can be aided by information and communication technology. We hope to extend the benefits of ICTs to  Nigerians regardless of geo-graphical or socio-economic status”.