Following the news of internet things, maybe Yaba is relocating to Ekiti State.
It is no more news that the district of Yaba has become the Information technology hub of Lagos and Nigeria. So, it hosts the most popular clusters of young minds that pull out interesting codes and ideas. Nonetheless, there are areas close to Yaba that have creative spaces. One such is The iHub which is located in Masha Surulere. Surulere is a district very close to Yaba.
Yaba is a very busy place with E-center and CcHub being the most popular for upward youths activities. E-Center, is a shopping mall with a number of facilities suitable for the upwardly mobile youth. The Cc-Hub incubates creative tech ventures and provides shared space. The presence of the military and educational institutions in Yaba may have provided security, knowledge, and youths. But Internet connectivity motivates other things. So internet connectivity, security, and Knowledge are three enabling factors for this tech domination of Yaba. Ekiti state may be relocating youths out of Yaba with an executive order to give Right of Way to telcos.
Right of Way
Ekiti state, In a landmark decision, slashed telecoms Right of Way charges by 97%. A Right of way is a legal right established by usage or grant, of passage along a specific route through grounds or property belonging to another. The Collins Dictionary of Law states that a Right of Way is a privilege enjoyed by one entity to pass over the land of another entity subject to customary terms and conditions as are specified in the grant. The Ekiti State government intends to work with the telcos to push the frontiers of Internet penetration in the state.
This is going to change everything for the state. The initiative is coming at a time when the Ekiti State Government is moving fast on the Ekiti Knowledge Zone. In October 2019, the Ekiti State Government approached lenders seeking $100 million loans to build Ekiti Knowledge Zone. This facility will accommodate Special Agriculture Processing Zone, Ado-Akure road, and Ekiti Airport.
“… the ongoing development of the Ekiti Knowledge Zone is designed to be Nigeria’s first service-based innovation park.”
Governor Fayemi
Executive Order
In Executive Order No. 007 of 2020, the Ekiti State government reduced the Right of Way from N4500 to N145 per linear meter. According to Governor Fayemi, this development will motivate the telecom operators to fast-track full internet penetration in the state by 2021. The state government said they plan that all residents will have access to internet connectivity.
The resolution to reduce the cost of right of way followed an appeal made by the Minister of Communications. Dr. Isa Pantami made this appeal during a meeting of the Governors’ Forum in January 2020. He, therefore, reminded the governors of a 2013 resolution. The National Economic Council agreed to an RoW charge of N145. In that same January presentation, Dr. Pantami discussed the many benefits that an increase in broadband access could have on the economy of the various states.
Ekiti
In the South West of Nigeria, Ekiti state has the largest number of academics. Therefore, known as the Fountain of Knowledge. A state already admired for knowledge without internet connectivity will very much be voracious with one. How this will impact on the Youth is something that will depend on the integrated vision of the Ekiti government and people.
Nonetheless, Yaba is not about to drop the dominance.
What do you think?
