The Federal Government will co-invest with the private sector to roll out 7,000 telecommunications towers next year as part of efforts to improve network coverage and digital connectivity across Nigeria.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, disclosed this on Thursday in Lagos during a stakeholder engagement session organized by the Universal Service Provision Fund. He explained that the initiative aims to provide telecom access to an estimated 25 to 30 million Nigerians living in underserved areas with little or no infrastructure.
Under the investment model, the government will hold a 49% stake, while private sector investors will contribute the remaining 51%, ensuring private-sector efficiency in management. The towers will be operated by private companies, with the government playing a co-investment role to extend telecom services to rural areas.
The Federal Executive Council approved the project on February 27 as part of a broader digital infrastructure strategy. Tijani emphasized that if private capital alone could not reach these communities, the government had a responsibility to step in.
“You may ask, why is the government investing in this instead of other sectors like education? But in today’s world, anyone without connectivity is effectively cut off from opportunities and modern realities,” he said.
The initiative aligns with Nigeria’s national broadband plan and complements a $2 billion investment in 90,000 km of fiber-optic cables to expand broadband access. Tijani, who is spearheading the fiber-optic project in collaboration with the World Bank, said the goal is to ensure every part of the country is within close proximity to high-speed internet.
A study will be conducted to assess existing telecom infrastructure and determine the best locations for tower deployment. “We will leverage both government and private sector infrastructure to optimize deployment,” Tijani said.
Recognizing the risk of vandalism, Tijani noted that President Bola Tinubu had, in 2023, classified telecommunications infrastructure as critical national infrastructure—a designation typically reserved for military installations.
“Those who destroy these assets will now face serious consequences,” he warned, adding that enhanced security measures would be implemented to safeguard the new towers.
The government aims to begin groundwork for the project before the end of 2024, with full-scale deployment expected to commence in early 2025
