Bosun Tijani, minister of communications, innovation and digital economy, says the federal government has secured the funds required to deploy 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic infrastructure across Nigeria.
Tijani spoke on Wednesday in Abuja at an event marking the
Global Privacy Day, organised by the Nigerian Data Protection Commission
(NDPC), disclosing the government’s plan to buy two satellites.
In August 2025, the federal government announced plans to
lay 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable across Nigeria as part of efforts to
deepen internet access and digital inclusion.
“When I talk about the fact that we will connect 90,000
kilometres of fibre, it’s not just a dream. I’ve actually done 60 percent of
that work,” the minister said.
“The money for that project has been secured. So if I talk
to you today, I can boldly say that I’ve done the bulk of the work for whoever
is going to become the minister.”
Tijani, who did not disclose the amount, said digital
infrastructure drive is part of President Bola Tinubu’s vision to build a $1
trillion economy anchored on shared prosperity.
“If our economy can truly become $1 trillion, most of the
money that we all want to see will become extremely positive,” he said.
“Because it’s from what we generate that we’re able to
provide roads, schools, hospitals, but also pay our staff well as well.”
He said the ministry’s role is to ensure that technology
serves as an enabler of shared prosperity, stressing that digital growth must
benefit all Nigerians.
“Our contribution will be to ensure that digital technology
serves as an enabler of shared prosperity, not just prosperity, but shared
prosperity, so that every member of our society can actually benefit from the
work we do,” he said.
FG TO PROCURE TWO COMMUNICATION SATELLITES
Beyond fibre deployment, Tijani listed other priority
projects, including the rollout of about 4,000 telecom towers in rural areas
under the MilCAP programme and plans to procure two new communication
satellites.
“Nigeria today is the only country in West Africa with a
known communication satellite, and we’ve been given a head to procure two new
ones,” he said.
“We want to ensure that we can use those satellites to
connect every part of our nation and neighbouring countries.”
The minister said Nigeria is also investing heavily in
digital skills, describing the country’s technology talent accelerator as the
largest of its kind.
“To truly appropriate technology, we must have a strong
workforce to back our mission,” he said.
Tijani, however, warned that expanding connectivity without
adequate safeguards could undermine public confidence in the digital economy.
“If we lose trust in this sector, people will be discouraged
from actually relying on some of the tools that we brought to transform our
economy,” he said.
“But if we can maintain trust, citizens will believe in
those tools, and those tools will help to make Nigeria prosperous.”
The minister described data protection and privacy as the
foundation of trust, noting that the signing of the Nigerian Data Protection
Commission Act was a deliberate signal by the administration.
“It was a clear signal that as Nigeria accelerates its
digital transformation, the rights, dignity, and data of our citizens must be
protected,” Tijani said.
“The success of Nigeria’s digital economy will rest not only
on infrastructure and talent, but also on trust.”
Earlier, Vincent Olatunji, the national commissioner and
chief executive officer of the NDPC, said the commission is strengthening
enforcement of data protection laws through judicial training, international
collaboration and engagement with security agencies.
Olatunji also disclosed that the NDPC would soon publish a
list of non-compliant higher institutions as part of efforts to promote
accountability.
He said enforcement, public awareness, and collaboration are
critical to sustaining trust as Nigeria’s digital economy expands.
A highlight of the event was the presentation of an award to
Tijani as global data protection champion by the NDPC.
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