KEY POINTS
- Nigerians living in unconnected areas will be helped by the installation of 7,000 telecom towers.
- A new $2B project involving fiber optics will help boost Nigeria’s broadband infrastructure by 2025–2027.
- 130,000 youth have learned digital skills through the 3MTT program to help drive both innovation and job growth.
The Federal Government is fighting the digital divide by starting a new telecom project to install 7,000 towers to help remote and underserved locations.
The program aims to support over 20 million Nigerians who do not yet have access to mobile or internet services.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, confirmed the move during an interview on Channels TV. The first tower activated in Kura which borders Abuja and is home to 12,000 people, offering communication for the first time.
“With the new tower, the voice and internet services are now reaching the local clinic and school. This works incredibly well,” Dr. Tijani remarked.
$2 billion is being spent to expand broadband access
In conjunction with the towers, the minister presented an extensive plan to lay 90,000 kilometers of fiber optic lines to help with Nigeria’s slow internet. There are only around 35,000–40,000 kilometers of fiber optic cable in the country which is not nearly enough for universal broadband access.
Support from the World Bank will allow the $2 billion project to begin before the end of 2025.
Building tech expertise for youth
He pointed out that the 3MTT program is an ambitious national venture teaching youth digital competencies. Around 130,000 young Nigerians have completed training coursework in coding, data analysis and other areas related to technology, helping grow jobs, startups and technical innovation.
Other activities covered in the telecom agreement are:
Getting broadband to universities (for example, UNILAG and UNIABUJA)
Entrepreneurs are currently working to rebuild the Kano Innovation Hub.
Assisting more than 50 AI startups
NITDA is rolling out innovation hubs in every state nationwide.
