Lagos – Stakeholders in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector on Thursday called for the control of contents put on the internet.
The stakeholders made the call at the Digital Sense Forum Series 2015, on the theme, ”Net Neutrality and the Nigerian Internet Users”, organised by the Digital Sense Africa Media in Lagos.
They held the view that although the internet should be open and free, there was still the need to ensure that it was safe for users.
Mr Stanley Jegede, the Chief Executive Officer of Phase3 Telecoms, said that Nigerians should support the issue of net neutrality, given the business benefits that come with it.
Jegede said that with net neutrality, Nigerians would have unlimited access to the use of Internet space.
He added that it would promote a level playing ground and competition among businesses.
“Net neutrality has to continue but the regulator has to check what contents are put on the internet,” Jegede said.
Mr Peter Jack, the Director-General of the National Information and Technology Development Agency (NITDA), said that the internet was free and open but there had to be caution on what were posted on it.
Jack, who was represented by Mr Preye Ntoye of the Infrastructure and Technical Support Services Department, NITDA, said that anything posted on the internet could be retrieved in the future and used against the person that posted it.
Mrs Yetunde Akinloye, the Head, Legal and Regulatory Department of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), called on Nigerians to use the internet space with caution and shun any activity that would blacklist the image of the country.
Akinloye said that it was critical to check what was done on the internet, so that things do not go out of hand.
Mrs Nkemdilim Nweke, the Executive Director, Operations of Digital Sense Africa, said that the debate on whether the internet should be open could not be overemphasised, since the internet had become an essential part of our lives.
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Nweke said that the internet was important for access to knowledge, services and free speech, as well as freedom and ease of doing business.
The two-day Digital Sense Forum Series 2015, which is being attended by over 200 participants, ends on Friday. (NAN)
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