Abstract:

This paper focused on the role of government in NII development in Nigeria, a developing country that has been attempting to enhance the role of various ICTs in various sectors of her economy over the years. A longitudinal analysis of the Internet diffusion, as a representative NII technology was undertaken using the Global Diffusion of the Internet (GDI) frame work. The analysis reveals that there has been a determined focus on the development of the NII infrastructure in Nigeria. What comes to the fore is the important role the government is playing in ensuring that the Internet contributes to the economic rejuvenation of the country. We pinpoint that the federal government has been ineffective in indirectly facilitating the sector in the roles of strategist, guider and integrator. It is hoped that current and future policy initiatives in the telecommunications industry will change the negative determinants of NII development.