FG Targets 1,000 Rural Telecom Towers In 2026
The Federal Government has said it will deliver at least 1,000 telecommunications towers to rural communities in 2026 as part of efforts to expand digital connectivity and bridge access gaps across the country.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja during a press briefing on the National Digital Economy Research Clusters Programme, funded under Project BRIDGE.
He said, “The president has approved for us to install 3,700 towers… We’re working hard to deliver at least 1,000 of those this year,” noting that over 20 million Nigerians still live in areas without any form of connectivity.
Tijani explained that the tower rollout is part of a broader digital infrastructure plan that includes the deployment of 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic network nationwide to improve connectivity across all states, local governments and wards.
He stated, “If we have a ubiquitous fibre network all across Nigeria, the complaints that you give today on the quality of connectivity will change totally… If you want true real connectivity, it has to be through fibre.”
He stressed that the government is pursuing a coordinated infrastructure strategy that also includes upgrading Nigeria’s communication satellites and expanding digital access, adding that no developing country is currently investing simultaneously in fibre, towers and satellites at such a scale.
Beyond infrastructure, the minister said the government is prioritising evidence-based policymaking through the newly launched National Digital Economy Research Clusters, a university-led initiative designed to support Nigeria’s digital transformation.
Tijani said the programme would focus on six thematic areas and bring together top Nigerian academics to generate insights for policymaking, correcting earlier misconceptions about participation.
He said, “We want to pick six professors, up to six professors per cluster… it has nothing to do with how many states that we have in Nigeria,” adding that the goal is to assemble the best researchers to work collaboratively on national priorities.
He explained that each professor would be supported by three postdoctoral researchers and three PhD candidates, resulting in over 200 researchers working across the clusters over the next three years.
Bosun added that the programme would strengthen policy design and provide data-driven insights for both government and private sector decision-making.
The minister noted that the initiative is backed by about N12bn in funding over three years, with each cluster receiving $1.5m, and an additional allocation for programme management.
He added that international collaborations are expected to deepen the initiative, as foreign institutions partner with Nigerian researchers and bring additional resources into the programme.
On governance, Tijani said the clusters would operate under a structured framework involving both the communications and education ministries, alongside independent management to ensure transparency and accountability, particularly given the World Bank backing.
He urged the media to actively monitor the programme’s implementation.
Tijani also emphasised that Nigeria’s digital economy is expanding rapidly, with the sector’s contribution to GDP rising from about 16–18 per cent to nearly 20 per cent, with a target of 21 per cent next year.
He highlighted flagship initiatives, including the 3 Million Technical Talent programme, which he described as the largest technology talent accelerator globally, with participants across all 774 local government areas.
He added that Nigeria leads Africa in telecommunications investment inflows and hosts the continent’s largest telecoms market, noting that operations of major firms in Nigeria surpass those in their home countries.
The minister further disclosed that the Federal Government is working on a Digital Economy Bill currently before the National Assembly, which will provide a unified legal framework for the sector for the first time.
He said the government is also building a national data exchange system to enable seamless data sharing across public and private institutions, alongside implementing a national artificial intelligence strategy and a digital postcode system to improve commerce and service delivery.
Tijani stressed that universities must move beyond teaching to become centres of innovation and problem-solving, adding that research must be rigorous, peer-reviewed and aligned with global standards.
