ROTIMI MAKINDE MAKES CASE FOR RURAL AREAS ON TELEPHONE NETWORKING

Research has shown that millions of Nigerians living in rural areas do not have access to telecommunication as a result of poor network coverage. These set of people have been relegated and neglected in our pursuits of a modern and technologically connected country. It is so sad that these rural areas where farm and agricultural products are made for both the rich and the poor lack network coverage which has greatly reduced the effectiveness and efficiency at which work is done in these rural areas.

Hon. Rotimi Makinde, a former federal legislator and C.E.O of Oodua FM while speaking with one of our reporters in Ile-Ife, Omisakin Gabriel bitterly expressed his dissatisfaction on this issue and openly appeal to government and service providers to look into it. He explained how farmers and dwellers of rural areas reacted over this issue during one of his empowerment programmes at the rural areas within the axis of Ife Federal Constituency; empowerment programmes where stylist equipments, motorcycles, grinding machines and cheques were issued to some people to start businesses.

In his reaction; he said that "It has become imperative to make a case for rural areas in our society for adequate network coverage if truly we are sincere about making life meaningful and encouraging to rural dwellers. Lets not forget that most of our dependable materials and most especially our survival depends on production of food items from various farm settlements and from  this same set of people who could not get connected to talk to their families and marketers in urban cities. It is sad to note that Osi sooko in ife land, Mefoworade and Famia are badly affected when indeed they play host to a lot of resources depended on by the generality of Osun State. It's high time we take it as a policy and a mandatory obligation for all the service providers such Airtel, MTN, Globacom, 9mobile etc. Not until we compel these  set of people, they will continue to focus only on the highways and cities.

However, Rotimi Makinde appealed to government to work towards compelling service providers to focus on rural areas; if this is done and rural areas become connected; it would be easier for dwellers to live and improve their standard of living.