Group tasks government on Internet affordability

A digital rights advocacy group, Paradigm Initiative, on Sunday urged the government to ensure affordable Internet in Nigeria, especially in the rural areas.

Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative, said this in an interview with the newsmen in Lagos.

According to him, people literally spend about 60 per cent of their income on Internet in Nigeria and some other countries which should not be.

Sesan spoke against the backdrop of the issue of non accessibility and affordability of the Internet at the 2019 Digital Right Inclusion Forum in Lagos.

Sesan said that since online was where the opportunities lie, there was no reason people’s income should be spent on Internet.

“If online is where opportunities are, there is no reason why we should spend a large chunk of our income on that.

“We can only make recommendations to government in that area, agitate about and basically build advocacy around it for the affordability of the Internet.

“ Paradigm Initiative is glad to partner with foundations who give report every year to highlight that people literally spend 60 per cent of their incomes on Internet which should not be,’’ he said.

Sesan, who also spoke on the Digital Right and Freedom Bill, said that it was a win and loss case; a loss because of the inability to get the president to sign the bill.

Sesan said that the Digital Right and Freedom Bill was to ensure responsible use of the Internet and sanction irresponsible users.