Abuja: The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has announced that an additional 20 million Nigerians will gain access to the Internet as the Federal Government expands its rural connectivity initiatives. Tijani made this announcement during the Flagship Nigeria Convening programme, organized in partnership with Digital Access in Africa, on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the three-day programme, themed ‘Closing Nigeria’s Usage Gap Through Affordable Devices and Digital Skills’, highlighted Nigeria’s unique position in Africa. The country is the only one on the continent investing in additional 3,700 towers to boost digital infrastructure in rural areas, a move critical to Nigeria’s economic transformation agenda. The Federal Government is committed to enhancing digital access and establishing a robust digital economy backbone.
Dr. Tijani emphasized that Nigeria is not only investing in 90,000 kilometers of a fiber-optic network, supported by the World Bank, but is also enhancing its digital infrastructure with two new communication satellites. This investment aims to connect about 20 million currently unconnected Nigerians. He highlighted how tariff adjustments and reviews in the telecom sector have restored profitability and spurred over $1 billion in private investments.
Infrastructure development, however, goes hand-in-hand with digital skills and literacy. The government distinguishes between advanced technical skills and basic digital literacy, as demonstrated by the Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program launched in 2023, which has already trained over 150,000 young Nigerians. Plans are in place to launch a nationwide digital literacy program using mobile technology and local languages.
Nigeria has also developed Africa’s first government-backed large language model to facilitate artificial intelligence communication in Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, and accented English. This innovation will lay the foundation for digital literacy training for Nigerians of all ages.
Updating on Nigeria’s satellite plans, Dr. Tijani mentioned that the existing communication satellite is outdated, and President Bola Tinubu has approved the procurement of new ones. These satellites will be pivotal in connecting remote areas and supporting national security. Fiber deployment is expected to start between the second and third quarters of this year, with the new satellites becoming operational by next year.
In his remarks, Ibrahima Guimba-Saidou, Chief Executive Officer of the Partnership for Digital Access in Africa (PDA), aligned the event’s goals with the continent’s objective of connecting one billion people to the internet by 2030. He praised Nigeria’s strategic investments in connectivity, devices, and digital skills but noted that electricity remains a critical missing link for true digital inclusion. The PDA’s Mission 300 initiative aims to expand electricity access to remote areas, enabling communities to maximize digital services.
World Bank’s Country Director for Nigeria, Mathew Verghis, highlighted Nigeria’s significant deficits in electricity access and infrastructure but also its substantial growth potential. He emphasized that digital inclusion requires reliable power, broadband connectivity, and affordable devices. The World Bank is poised to support both public and private sectors in Nigeria to integrate power and broadband access for millions. Coordinated planning, construction, and financing of power and fiber infrastructure are crucial to reducing costs and accelerating universal access.