Nigeria has taken a major step toward closing its digital access gap, with the Federal Executive Council approving the deployment of 4,000 telecom towers across underserved communities. The decision, announced after a council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu, follows a joint memo from the Ministries of Digital Communications and Finance. Officials say the initiative targets the more than 23 million Nigerians who still lack basic digital connectivity.
According to Information Minister Muhammed Idris, the project will establish service centres supporting agricultural mechanization and the digital economy, while expanding network coverage in remote areas. He noted that limited access has long hindered communication, commerce, and public safety. By extending telecom infrastructure to places previously ignored by operators, the government expects improvements in security operations, economic participation, and everyday livelihoods.
The tower rollout forms part of a wider effort to accelerate broadband penetration, which stood at 48.81% as of May 2025—still far below the 70% target. Alongside the planned 90,000-kilometre fibre backbone and a separate proposal for 7,000 additional towers, the initiative is expected to strengthen nationwide connectivity and enhance quality of service, especially in rural regions.
