The Federal Government will kick off a nationwide rollout of 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic cables and 7,000 telecom towers in Q4 2025. The infrastructure project, worth N3.3 trillion, aims to deliver high-speed internet across Nigeria.
Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, confirmed this during an interview for a State House documentary marking President Bola Tinubu’s second year in office.
According to him, the sector has experienced significant growth under Tinubu’s leadership. It attracted $191 million in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Q1 2024, compared to $22 million in Q1 2023.
He explained that the initiative, tagged Project Bridge, forms part of a $2 billion investment to expand fibre optic coverage. The rollout, he noted, will begin by the end of 2025.
“Expanding connectivity hubs by 10% can drive 2.5% GDP growth,” Tijani stated.
Digital Skills, AI and Startup Ecosystem Gain Momentum
Dr. Tijani also highlighted major gains in digital skills development. The 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, launched in October 2023, has trained over 117,000 Nigerians. This figure far exceeds the initial goal of 30,000. Additionally, 35,000 more are undergoing training.
He stressed that the programme aims to produce three million skilled tech workers before the end of the current administration.
On AI and innovation, Tijani revealed Nigeria now ranks among the top 60 countries globally for AI readiness. He praised the development of a local Large Language Model (LLM) and the launch of the AI Collective platform. This initiative enjoys support from key partners like Google, Microsoft, and Pierre Omidyar.
The ministry has also funded 55 academic researchers to explore tech applications in agriculture, healthcare, and education. Furthermore, it invested N300 million in 10 startups using AI and blockchain to boost agricultural output.
Government Targets 98% Network Coverage
To close connectivity gaps, the government plans to deploy 7,000 telecom towers. The project, already approved by the Federal Executive Council, will target 98% nationwide network coverage.
Dr. Tijani mentioned that 12 states now offer zero-rated Right-of-Way (RoW) policies, which will ease infrastructure deployment.
He expressed confidence that the sector’s GDP contribution will increase from 16% to 22% by 2025. The National Broadband Plan also aims to raise broadband penetration to 90%, up from 48% in 2024.
Additionally, the government has trained over 500 technologists in AI and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). He noted that the Digital Economy Bill has passed its first reading in the National Assembly.
Tijani also discussed international outreach. He said the Nigeria Startup House in San Francisco aims to attract $5 billion in global funding for Nigerian startups. The Startup Pact and Trade Desk initiatives will link local tech firms with global markets and government contracts.
“We’re not chasing quick wins,” Tijani concluded. “We’re laying down long-term reforms to transform Nigeria’s economy for generations.”
