By Chinenye Anuforo
To transform Nigeria’s digital landscape, the federal government has announced the imminent arrival of $3 billion worth of telecommunications equipment and fibre optic infrastructure by June 2025.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, made the disclosure during a recent panel discussion at the World Bank’s Nigeria Development Update (NDU) conference.
Tijani highlighted the transformative impact of the substantial investment on the nation’s digital backbone. He revealed that the first tranche, consisting of $1 billion in telecommunication equipment, is expected to land in Nigeria by mid-2025. This will be closely followed by the deployment of fibre optic cables valued at an additional $2 billion, strategically aimed at fortifying broadband infrastructure nationwide.
He emphasised that the $3 billion commitment was the fruit of sustained collaboration between the Nigerian government and the World Bank, focused on attracting long-term financing to fuel critical broadband expansion.
Speaking at a recent stakeholders’ forum in Abuja, themed “Realising a Nigerian Vision of Broadband for All,” he articulated the scale of the challenge and the urgent need for investment. “We are here with critical stakeholders on how to attract investments and fund our broadband infrastructure. I am sure everybody that is listening to me probably understands that now we cannot do without technology on the internet; so, we all need quality access regardless of our location,” he asserted.
He further emphasised the necessity of a robust digital foundation, explaining, “There is a need for us to invest in that databank. So, it is the kind of thing that we call the telecommunications infrastructure, or in some cases, we call the fibre optic cables. So, there is actually a cable that helps us make it possible for the internet to happen.”
The minister also highlighted that the infrastructure deployment will underpin a pilot program designed to bridge the existing digital divide. “A pilot phase targeting over 20 million Nigerians who currently lack access to any form of telecommunications would soon be launched,” he announced. The initiative is projected to extend crucial telecommunications access to currently unserved and underserved communities, particularly in rural areas.
He clarified that this ambitious initiative aims to “significantly enhance communication services across the country and bridge the connectivity gap.” This aligns directly with the broader objectives of Nigeria’s digital economy agenda, which prioritises ensuring inclusive access to technology and connectivity for all its citizens.
Nigeria’s fibre optic infrastructure, while developing, remains significantly less extensive outside major urban centers. Cities like Lagos and Abuja have seen some deployment, but many rural and semi-urban areas still lack adequate connectivity. Moreover, the sector has been consistently plagued by fibre optic cable cuts. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) reported over 50,000 incidents in 2023 alone, with approximately 30,000 caused by road construction by federal and state agencies, leading to widespread network outages and substantial economic losses. The nationwide network disruption experienced by MTN in February 2024, traced back to damaged fibre infrastructure, serves as a stark reminder of this challenge.