FG to deploy 80% of new telecom towers in North

From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja

The Federal Government has disclosed plans to deploy 80 percent telecom towers in the North as part of efforts to bridge the country’s widening digital divide.

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, made this known yesterday in Abuja during the inauguration of the Board of the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF).

Tijani stressed that the move was targeted at addressing the significant connectivity gaps in rural and underserved communities, particularly in the northern region.

According to him, the Federal Government was embarking on an ambitious plan to roll out close to 4,000 telecom towers nationwide, with the majority to be sited in areas with little or no access to digital services.

He noted that despite Nigeria’s progress in expanding telecommunications access over the years, millions of citizens remain either unconnected or not meaningfully connected, especially in rural areas.

The minister explained that the initiative forms part of a broader strategy to deepen digital infrastructure, including ongoing plans to deploy about 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic cables across the country.

While highlighting the role of the USPF, Tijani said the agency had made notable contributions to expanding access through the provision of telecom infrastructure, digital centres and connectivity projects in schools and communities.

However, he emphasised that the future of the fund must go beyond providing access to ensuring meaningful connectivity that drives economic growth and improves livelihoods.

Earlier, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Aminu Maida, said the inauguration of the board would help reduce administrative burdens and enable more strategic focus on bridging connectivity gaps across the country.

Maida noted that while Nigeria has recorded significant data growth in recent years, much of the increase is concentrated in urban centres, leaving rural areas further behind.

He stressed the need for a shift from basic access to meaningful connectivity that supports productivity and economic inclusion.