20m Nigerians to experience better access to Internet, digital services, says FG
The Federal Government on Wednesday said no fewer than 20 million Nigerians lacking internet and access to digital services, especially in rural areas, would soon begin to enjoy such access
The Federal Government on Wednesday said no fewer than 20 million Nigerians lacking internet and access to digital services, especially in rural areas, would soon begin to enjoy such access following the completion and deployment of ongoing infrastructure projects across the country.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, disclosed this in Abuja shortly after delivering a keynote address at the Flagship Nigeria Electrification +Connectivity Convening/workshop organised by the Ministry in conjunction with the World Bank and Partnership for Digital Access in Africa (PDAA).
The Workshop, which was held at the Nordic Hotel, Abuja, had the theme: Advancing Nigeria digital Transformation Agenda.
Dr Tijani, who assured that Nigerians would begin to see significant improvements in broadband services before the end of this year, noted that at the moment, no country in Africa currently invests in digital infrastructure as the Federal Government.
Dr Tijani disclosed that Nigeria is the only African country investing in a 90,000-kilometer fiber optic network at the moment, a project being supported by the World Bank and other stakeholders.
He said the administration of President Bola Tinubu has approved the purchase and installation of two new communication satellites for the country following the expiration of old ones, while the government also approved the deployment of 3,700 additional telecom towers in rural areas.
He explained that the investments are expected to ensure connectivity for about 20 million Nigerians who currently lack access to basic Internet services and connectivity.
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The Minister reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to deepening digital access and building the backbone of Nigeria’s digital economy.
He noted that Nigeria is currently making the most extensive investment in digital infrastructures on the African continent, describing it as critical to the country’s economic transformation agenda.
“At the moment, there is no country in Africa that is investing in digital infrastructure as deeply as Nigeria,” the minister said, noting that recent policy adjustments, including tariff reviews in the telecoms sector, have helped restore profitability and encouraged private investment exceeding $1 billion.
He stressed, however, that infrastructure alone is not sufficient without digital skills and literacy.
The Minister explained that the government has differentiated between advanced technical skills and basic digital literacy, pointing to the Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme launched in 2023, which has already trained over 150,000 young Nigerians.
According to him, plans are underway to roll out a nationwide digital literacy program using mobile technology and local languages.
As part of this effort, the minister announced that Nigeria has developed the first government-backed language model in Africa, enabling artificial intelligence to communicate in Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, and accented English.
He said this innovation would serve as the foundation for delivering digital literacy training to Nigerians of all ages.
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Providing further updates on Nigeria’s satellite plans, Tijani said the country’s existing communication satellite, which was installed under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has become outdated, stating that President Tinubu has approved the procurement of new ones.
The Minister said the communication satellites would play key roles in connecting hard-to-reach areas and supporting the nation's military and security institutions to address communication challenges.
He said fibre deployment is expected to commence between the second and third quarters of this year, while the new satellites should become operational by next year.
Also speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of the Partnership for Digital Access in Africa (PDAA), Ibrahima Guimba-Saidou, said the goal of the event is in line with the continent's agenda of connecting one billion people to the internet by 2030.
He commended Nigeria for its clear strategy and massive investments in connectivity, devices, and digital skills, stressing that electricity remains a critical missing link in achieving true digital inclusion.
He explained that PDAA’s Mission 300 initiative focuses on expanding electricity access to remote areas to enable communities, schools, health centres, and markets to fully benefit from digital services.
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“This is about making connectivity relevant to the people who need it the most, not just those in major cities,” he said.
Guimba-Saidou called for stronger collaboration between the government and the private sector to close the digital divide quickly and effectively.
The World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Mathew Verghis, said Nigeria has some of the world’s most significant deficits in electricity access and backbone infrastructure, and acknowledged the country's enormous growth potential driven by its demographics.
Verghis emphasized that digital inclusion cannot be achieved without reliable power, broadband connectivity, and affordable devices working together. He called for coordinated planning, construction, and financing of power and fiber infrastructure to reduce costs and accelerate universal access.
“There is no digital inclusion without power, and no inclusive growth from electrification without connectivity,” he said.
Verghis said the World Bank stands ready to support federal and state governments, as well as private sector partners in Nigeria, to turn the vision of integrated power and broadband access into reality for millions of Nigerians.
