FG targets 200 new telecom sites before December

The Nigerian government aims to operationalize 200 new telecommunications sites by December as part of a nationwide infrastructure project, according to Dr Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy. This project aims to connect over 20 million Nigerians currently lacking adequate telecom services. The minister revealed that each tower would serve communities of 5,000 to 10,000 residents, with the potential to reach over 20 million people.

The initiative follows President Bola Tinubu's directive to extend telecommunications services to previously disconnected communities. The first tower under the project was deployed in Kura Village, outside Abuja, with work also underway in the Niger Delta. The government is investing in a 90,000-kilometre fibre optic network to improve broadband infrastructure and provide internet access nationwide.

Tinubu also approved the upgrade of Nigeria's communications satellite to extend coverage to areas inaccessible by fibre optic cables or towers. The minister emphasized the importance of digital literacy, cybersecurity, and data protection in supporting greater connectivity and protecting users as more people become online.