Nigeria is gearing up for a major transformation in its digital landscape, as the federal government plans to launch a nationwide telecom infrastructure initiative worth N3.3 trillion in the final quarter of 2025. The project will deliver 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic lines and establish 7,000 new telecom towers.
Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, shared this development during an interview for an upcoming State House documentary marking President Bola Tinubu’s two-year anniversary in office.
Highlighting the progress made in the sector since President Tinubu assumed office, Tijani revealed a sharp increase in foreign investment, stating that Nigeria attracted $191 million in FDI during Q1 2024—an almost tenfold increase from the $22 million recorded in the same period the previous year.
In discussing the broader strategy behind Nigeria’s digital progress, Tijani referenced ongoing efforts to build a highly skilled tech workforce through the Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme. Alongside this, the Minister confirmed a $2 billion allocation to expand fibre connectivity throughout the country.
“These foundational reforms, coupled with advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and the startup ecosystem, have positioned Nigeria as a global leader in the digital economy,” he said.
The 3MTT programme, which launched in October 2023, has already exceeded its initial milestones.
“By last year, we had already moved that to over 117,000. With an additional 35,000 in training, the programme is nearing 10 per cent of its three million goal. And in the rest of the time in office, we hope to reach the three million,” Tijani noted.
One of the flagship connectivity initiatives, known as Project Bridge, will be key to closing the digital divide across the country. Speaking on its potential impact, Tijani explained: “We are preparing a $2 billion investment to ensure every Nigerian can access affordable, high-quality connectivity regardless of location. Increasing connectivity hubs by just 10 per cent could yield a 2.5 per cent GDP growth.”
On the AI front, Nigeria is making significant strides. The Minister celebrated the country’s ranking among the world’s top 60 nations for AI readiness and the successful development of a domestic large language model.
He also drew attention to the launch of the AI Collective, a platform aimed at encouraging innovation through partnerships with global tech giants such as Pierre Omidyar, Google, and Microsoft.
In an unprecedented move, the ministry has also provided funding to 55 academic researchers to explore the role of technology in transforming key sectors like agriculture, education, and healthcare. Additionally, 10 startups using cutting-edge technologies like AI and blockchain to boost farming efficiency have received a combined N300 million in funding.
Turning to international outreach, Tijani spotlighted the establishment of the Nigeria Startup House in San Francisco, designed to help local innovators attract global capital.
“Our goal is to attract $5 billion in investments for Nigerian startups, supported by the Startup Pact and Trade Desk initiatives, which will connect local tech firms to global opportunities and government procurement,” he explained.
Efforts to modernize public infrastructure are also underway. More than 500 government technologists have received training in areas such as AI and Digital Public Infrastructure. Furthermore, the groundbreaking Digital Economy Bill has passed its initial reading in the National Assembly.
To extend digital access to remote areas, the Ministry has outlined a plan to install 7,000 telecom towers, targeting 98% national coverage. This plan has already been endorsed by the Federal Executive Council.
Progress on reducing Right-of-Way (RoW) costs—an issue that has historically hindered broadband deployment—has also been encouraging. Twelve states have now implemented zero-rated RoW policies, making broadband expansion more cost-effective and efficient.
These initiatives support the National Broadband Plan’s ambition to push coverage from the current 48% to 90% by the end of 2025. Tijani expressed optimism about the broader economic impact.
“If a sector can increase its contribution by three to four per cent to the GDP, we’re about to see the economic growth—we’ve not seen it before. Technology allows us to bridge the gap between governments and the people,” he stated.
In conclusion, the Minister emphasized that the current administration is focused on long-term impact rather than short-term success.
“The results we want to provide for Nigeria are long-lasting reforms that will transform our economy for generations to come,” he said.
