Nigeria is accelerating a twin-track digital infrastructure push as the federal government advances a nationwide fibre-optic rollout, while it’s preparing for the acquisition of two new communication satellites.
Bosun Tijani, minister of communications, innovation, and digital economy, made the announcement yesterday during a press briefing in Abuja commemorating Global Privacy Day 2026, which was hosted by the Nigerian Data Protection Commission.
The minister said the national fibre-optic backbone, which is expected to cover 90,000 kilometres, is nearly 60% complete.
The project aims to expand high-capacity broadband across the country, reduce the cost of internet access and improve service quality for businesses, public institutions and households.
According to Tijani, the fibre rollout is central to the government’s digital economy strategy, providing physical infrastructure required for e-government services, digital financial inclusion, innovation hubs and private sector investment.
He added that extending fibre deeper into underserved areas would help narrow Nigeria’s persistent urban-rural connectivity divide.
Alongside the terrestrial network, the federal executive council has also approved the procurement of two additional communication satellites to strengthen Nigeria’s space-based communications capacity.
The satellites are expected to enhance broadband coverage in remote and hard-to-reach regions, support broadcasting and improve data resilience for critical national services.
Tijani emphasised the satellite investment will complement the fibre network by providing redundancy and last-mile connectivity where laying cables is commercially or geographically challenging.
The combined approach, he said, will make Nigeria’s digital infrastructure more resilient and inclusive and will particularly close long-standing connectivity gaps.
By expanding broadband access and modernising communications infrastructure, authorities believe Nigeria can unlock new opportunities across sectors including technology, education, healthcare and commerce..
The initiatives are being implemented amid efforts to attract private investment and improve policy coordination across federal and state agencies.
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