Towards expanding telecommunications access to 30 million underserved Nigerians, the Federal Government on Thursday announced that its $2 billion fiber optic network project will begin in the fourth quarter of 2025.
This was revealed by the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, during the Industry-Focused Stakeholder Engagement Session of the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) in Lagos State.
To enhance digital connectivity, the project approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), will deployment 90,000 kilometers of fiber optic cables nationwide.
The project, which will be co-funded, with the World Bank committing $500 million, and the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Islamic Development Bank contributing, the Federal Government will hold a 49 percent stake, while the private sector take the remaining 51 percent to ensure efficient operations.
The investment, the Minister said, was essential to support Nigeria’s growing economy and ensuring equitable access to digital opportunities.
He said “The quality of connectivity that we want can only be achieved when investment is made in digital infrastructure.
"Historically, the private sector has driven these investments, but they focus on areas with immediate returns. The government is stepping in to close the gap,” he added
Besides the fiber network expansion, the government will also invest in constructing 7,000 telecommunications towers in underserved rural areas.
“If private capital won’t go to these areas, then the government must,” Tijani stated.
To protect the new investments, President Bola Tinubu has termed all telecommunications infrastructure as critical national assets.
The designation is aimed at discouraging vandalism and ensure uninterrupted service delivery.
Reaffirming his commitment to bridging the digital divide by strengthening partnerships to expand telecommunication infrastructure in unserved and underserved communities across the country, the NCC Executive Vice-Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida, harped on the importance of collaboration in achieving sustainable connectivity.
According to him, multi-stakeholder engagement was crucial for achieving digital inclusion.
This, he said, requires collective efforts from government agencies, mobile network operators, infrastructure providers, equipment manufacturers, development partners, and telecom trade groups.
“The evolving telecommunications landscape necessitates innovative and collaborative approaches to ensure long-term viability in delivering connectivity to unserved and underserved populations,” he said.
The NCC, through the USPF, has been at the forefront of initiatives aimed at ensuring universal access to telecommunications services.
Dr. Maida highlighted several key projects under USPF’s access and connectivity programs, including deployment of Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) to improve network coverage and expansion of backbone transmission infrastructure to enhance connectivity.
The event, he said, served as a platform to discuss practical strategies to enhance the impact of these initiatives through strengthened partnerships.
He also called on all stakeholders to take decisive steps toward fostering sustainable partnerships that will drive digital inclusion and outlined three key areas of focus.
He listed the areas to include exploring innovative financing models to attract investment in rural telecommunications; leveraging emerging technologies and alternative power solutions for sustainable connectivity and promoting policies that incentivize collaboration in connectivity projects.
“Our solutions must be tailored to address local challenges and align with current realities. The discussions at this event will lead to actionable solutions that will drive progress, foster economic development, and transform lives through connectivity,” he emphasised.
Maida therefore reaffirmed NCC’s commitment to ensuring that no community is left without access to digital connectivity.
“Together, we can build a future where digital connectivity is a fundamental right, not a privilege. Let us remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that no community is left in the digital dark,” he said.