The Nigerian government launched the pilot phase of a high-speed fibre-optic broadband project at the University of Lagos.
The new 'Fibre-to-Hostel' program, announced on Monday by Dr. Bosun Tijani, ,minister of communications, innovation, and digital economy, intends to provide dedicated fibre-optic connectivity, secure Wi-Fi access, and real-time performance monitoring directly to student hostels.
The initiative is a significant component of the National Broadband Alliance for Nigeria, a goal to increase internet connectivity in critical institutions, beginning with academic institutions.
The project's partners include Galaxy Backbone, Huawei, and Tizeti, an internet service provider.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Tijani stated that students in dormitories will now have access to broadband speeds ranging from 50 to 100 Mbps, a significant improvement over ordinary mobile data connectivity.
“This isn’t your usual phone internet. This is global-standard fiber connectivity brought directly into your living spaces,” the minister explained.
“When I was in school, we paid N30 ($0.02) per minute for dial-up. Today, we’re bringing you enterprise-grade broadband to power your learning, innovation, and creativity.”
Tijani emphasised the significance of this development for student empowerment.
“This rollout is a direct expression of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for a $1 trillion digital economy — one that’s inclusive and anchored on world-class infrastructure,” he said.
Tijani encouraged students to hold service providers accountable for performance issues. “If you’re not getting the promised speeds, reach out to me on LinkedIn. We’re building a country where quality and transparency matter,” he said.
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