The Federal Executive Council has approved the deployment of four thousand telecom towers across Nigeria, a move expected to widen digital access for millions of citizens currently cut off from reliable connectivity. The approval was confirmed after the council meeting in Abuja, with authorities stating that the decision followed a joint recommendation from the ministries overseeing digital communications and finance. Government officials described the project as a direct response to connectivity gaps affecting more than twenty-three million people, noting that limited broadband access has slowed participation in the digital economy, weakened communication in remote areas, and constrained community-level economic growth.
Under the new rollout plan, the towers will be installed in communities where coverage remains poor or non-existent. Authorities said the initiative is expected to improve access to digital tools that support commerce, financial transactions, agricultural operations, public services, and national security systems. Officials highlighted that better connectivity can help farmers access mechanisation services, traders receive payments more efficiently, and small businesses adopt digital solutions that expand their visibility beyond local markets. With improved communication infrastructure, entrepreneurs and MSMEs in rural regions may find it easier to engage customers, receive timely market information, and integrate into the wider economy.
Nigeria has made gradual progress in broadband expansion, yet penetration remains below targets set under the National Broadband Plan. When the policy was launched in 2020, broadband penetration stood at just under forty percent. It was projected to reach fifty percent by the end of 2023, but instead closed the year at a little over forty-three percent. Penetration rose modestly to a little above forty-four percent by the end of 2024 and reached about forty-eight percent by May 2025, supported by increased subscriptions. Despite these gains, the country is still some distance from the seventy percent target outlined in the national plan. The gap has been attributed to structural barriers such as high right-of-way charges, multiple taxation and regulatory hurdles that have slowed infrastructure rollout for telecom companies.
The approval for four thousand towers builds on an earlier announcement of plans to deploy seven thousand towers nationwide. The broader strategy includes the expansion of ninety thousand kilometres of fibre-optic cable across the country to boost network quality and ensure more communities can connect to fast and reliable internet. Government officials said the investment aligns with the administration’s commitment to digital inclusion and seeks not only to increase coverage but to improve user experience in remote areas where broadband remains weakest.
For small and medium-sized businesses, stronger network access could reduce operational friction, improve access to banking and digital payments, enhance e-commerce participation, and open pathways for remote work and online learning. As infrastructure improves and connectivity spreads to areas long left behind, Nigeria’s informal and rural business communities may experience a more supportive environment to scale, innovate, and contribute to national growth.
