IN its bid to promote rapid internet penetration among its populace, the Federal Government plans to build 12 Mobile Internet Units (MIU) across the six geopolitical zones as it initially takes off.

The Mobile Internet Units which will be a Mercedes Benz luxury bus converted to an internet laboratory with a Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) mounted on top with Personal Computers (PCs), had its first phase launched in Abuja.

Confirming the development to The Guardian, Prof. Gabriel Ajayi, Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) said the implementation bureau for the National Policy on Information Technology said the vehicle will be assembled locally.

The design of the internet laboratory will be done by the Science and Technology Ministry while the PCs will be solely Zinox computers, the first internationally certified made in Nigeria computer.

Explaining the project further, Ajayi said it was borne out of the determination by government to equip its citizenry with IT skills to enable them participate favourably in the information age.

The MIUs, according to the NITADA chief will employ well-skilled IT personnel, who will train people in different areas. The MIU will stay at least two weeks in each location in a particular geopolitical zone before moving to another.

Besides promoting computer literacy for those in rural areas, it will also provide internet access using the VSAT mounted on them.

He said the project would soon be launched, adding that the introduction of the MIU will be one of numerous gestures during the yuletide.

Already, he mentioned that plans are on to provide a VSAT facility each for broad based internet access in all states of the federation.

Ajayi, however, lamented that of the more than 650 million internet users in the world, Nigeria, despite its large population has less than one million internet users with most of them living in Lagos.

After the launch of the Mobile Internet Unit in Abuja, it was learnt that states will also be encouraged to take part in the project to increase the number.

Commenting on the choice of Zinox Computers as the PCs to be installed in the internet laboratory, Ajayi said it is an attempt to encourage local content and expertise for the development of the IT industry.