Telecommunication and National Integration in Nigeria: Prospects and Challenges

Abstract

The quest for national integration constitutes one of the greatest concerns of many African states including, Nigeria, which has the most heterogeneous population in the continent. Numerous policies, plans and programmes have been adopted to integrate Nigeria’s ethnic nationalities but the efforts are yet to yield the desired result. However, there are high hopes that the revolution in Nigeria’s telecommunication sector will ultimately accelerate the process of national integration. While the telecoms sector is increasing the country’s integrative capacity, it is also increasing avenues for the perpetration of crime and violence which is threatening the country’s existence as a composite state. Hence, this paper examines the interface between the telecoms sector and Nigeria’s national integration efforts.