(Special Report) MTN plans Nigeria’s first smart highway on 100km Onitsha-Enugu road
All is set for the introduction of smart expressways in Nigeria. This is coming on the heels of recent revelation by the leading telecom giant both in the continent and Nigeria, MTN that apart from taking over the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway for reconstruction, the highway is coming as the first smart road in the continent.
A top official of MTN Nigeria, who gave the hint in an exclusive telephone interview in Nigeria during the recent celebration of the company’s 20 years of doing business in Nigeria, added that the 100km stretch will be laden with supersonic fibre that will not allow a single blink in quality of service for road users. The official who pleaded anonymity, averred that usage of both MTn data and call services will be seamless when cruising on the road after delivery.
Business Hilights recalls that recently, the Federal Government revealed that Dangote, MTN, Access Bank, Transcorp and others have signalled to build 794kms of federal roads with tax credit under what it termed Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.
The Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed disclosed this in Washington DC during his on-going engagement with various global media outlets, global think tanks and influencers.
The minister said, so far, 11 states covering all the six geopolitical zones would benefit from the road project scheme made possible by Executive Order No. 7.
He identified the companies that had taken the advantage of the initiative as Dangote Industries, Unilever, Julius Berger, MTN, BUA Group of Companies, Access Bank, Transcorp, Lafarge and GZI Industries.
Mohammed said the companies would engage in providing big roads and bridges in exchange for tax credit.
