Digital number will replace national ID card as digital economy increases ICT contribution to GDP, says Pantami

Digital economy increases ICT contribution to GDP-Pantami
…. Digital number to replace the national identity card

From the moment the federal government (FG) unveiled its digital economy program, the performance and contribution of the information and communication technology (ICT) sector to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) increased. said Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami.

Pantami, who is the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, told Economic Confidential in an interview that in the second quarter of 2020, the contribution of ICT to GDP was 17% compared to a peak of 13% last year. .

The Minister spoke when he received Economic Confidential Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Yushau A. Shuaib, and members of the Editorial Board in his office.

He also said that with the transfer from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to his ministry, the concept of digital number would be given priority to replace the national identity card.

The minister revealed that broadband penetration has increased dramatically from just over 30% to over 42% in one year, adding that “any country where broadband penetration increases by 10%, it will increase automatically the GDP of all other sectors from a minimum of 1.6 percent up to 6.8 percent. “So the digital economy is the future, and it’s about prioritizing digital innovation and digital entrepreneurship.”

Regarding the transfer of NIMC to his ministry, Dr Pantami said that the digital number will now be the national identity that will allow Nigerians to access relevant services offered by government agencies and private institutions.

The Minister said: “The new approach is the digital number, not the card. The number, which will be in the country’s database, will be linked to the person’s identity and will be attached to the person’s passport and driver’s license, among other things. Thus, if a person wishes to access any type of service, it will be through the digital number, which he will provide to the authorities concerned, which will provide the service requested by the person. So there’s no point in promoting the digital economy and getting people to go out with cards. It should be optional.

In his remarks, the Editor-in-Chief of Economic Confidential congratulated Dr Pantami for the ICT projects and digital economic programs that were carried out in the year following his tenure as Minister of Communication and Digital Economy .

Shuaib said: “We are indeed amazed at the huge successes in the ICT sector in Nigeria in one year, especially when some sectors in other countries have gone bankrupt due to the challenge of the coronavirus pandemic.”

Read the full interview here “INTERVIEW: How the Digital Economy Boosts Nigeria’s GDP – Dr Isa Pantami”

INTERVIEW: How the Digital Economy Boosts Nigeria’s GDP – Dr Isa Pantami

By PRNigeria