Bosun Tijani internet boost plan will connect 20 million Nigerians by 2027 through fibre rollout, satellites and rural telecom towers

Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, has announced that approximately 20 million Nigerians currently without internet access will begin to experience significant improvements in connectivity and digital services by 2027 as large-scale infrastructure projects come on stream.

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Dr Tijani made the disclosure on Wednesday during an interview with journalists at the Flagship Nigeria event in Abuja, where he outlined what he described as Africa’s most ambitious digital infrastructure programme.

The minister stated that no other African country is investing as heavily in digital backbone infrastructure as Nigeria.

Dr Tijani pointed to a 90,000-kilometre fibre optic network supported by the World Bank, the procurement of two new communication satellites approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the deployment of 3,700 additional telecom towers in underserved rural communities.

According to Dr Tijani, the combined projects form the backbone of the Bosun Tijani internet boost strategy aimed at deepening digital access and accelerating economic transformation.

“There is no country in Africa today that is investing in digital infrastructure as deeply as Nigeria,” Dr Tijani said, adding that recent telecom tariff reviews have restored sector profitability and unlocked more than one billion dollars in private investment.

Dr Tijani stressed that infrastructure expansion must be matched with skills development. He said the Three Million Technical Talent programme launched in 2023 has already trained over 150,000 young Nigerians in advanced digital skills.

Beyond technical training, Dr Tijani revealed plans for a nationwide digital literacy initiative delivered through mobile platforms and local languages.

As part of this effort, the Federal Government has developed what he described as Africa’s first government-backed large language model capable of operating in Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and accented English.

The minister said fibre deployment is expected to begin between the second and third quarters of this year, while the new satellites should become operational in 2027.

The satellites are expected to play a pivotal role in connecting remote communities and strengthening national security infrastructure.

Also speaking at the event, Chief Executive Officer of the Partnership for Digital Access in Africa, Ibrahima Guimba-Saidou, said Nigeria’s strategy aligns with the continental ambition to connect one billion Africans to the internet by 2030. He noted, however, that electricity remains a critical gap in achieving meaningful digital inclusion.

World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Mathew Verghis, echoed that concern, stating that broadband expansion cannot succeed without reliable power supply and affordable devices.

Mr Verghis emphasised the need for coordinated planning of electricity and fibre infrastructure to reduce costs and accelerate universal access.

“There is no digital inclusion without power, and no inclusive growth from electrification without connectivity,” Mr Verghis said, pledging continued World Bank support.

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Officials at the event described the initiative as transformative, positioning Nigeria to leverage its youthful population and expanding digital ecosystem as a powerful driver of inclusive economic growth.