The Federal Government has lamented that poor communication network is a major challenge to health services and economic well-being for people in rural areas.
The Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, stated this in Bende, Bende LGA of Abia State on Friday while opening the first rural telecommunications tower.
He explained that the Federal Government was worried by the difficulties being encountered by people in the villages because of bad network signal. He noted that the travails of the rural dwellers made the Federal Government to begin the construction of 3,700 tower masts in different villages across the country.
Tijani observed that a patient who is in an emergency situation in rural communities may not be able to get medical help if there is no telecommunications network.
The minister appealed to traditional rulers in Bende to protect the telecommunications towerfrom being vandalized by hoodlums.
In his speech, the Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, said that he attracted the project to save his constituents from the difficulties they have been experiencing for many years.
Kalu said that Governor Alex Otti, who is of the Labour Party, did not frustrate him from citing the project and advised Bende traditional rulers against denying him land for projects he attracts to their communities.
He further condemned the attitude of some governors who stop members of opposition parties from citing projects in their states.
FG laments effect of poor communication network in hinterlands