FG Launches 3,700 Telecom Towers to Connect 20M Nigerians

The federal government has begun the rollout of 3,700 telecommunications towers nationwide as part of the Nigeria Universal Communication Access Project (NUCAP), targeting nearly 20 million Nigerians in underserved and unserved communities lacking adequate mobile and internet access. Dr Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, announced the project's commencement with the commissioning of its first site in Bende Local Government Area, Abia State.

Tijani described the initiative as crucial for expanding connectivity and enabling rural communities to engage in Nigeria's digital economy. The project aims to address gaps in telecommunications coverage, particularly in areas where infrastructure deployment is economically unviable.

It will also include public Wi-Fi, digital learning solutions, and energy infrastructure. This initiative is part of a broader digital infrastructure development program, which includes Project BRIDGE, aimed at deploying approximately 90,000 kilometers of fiber-optic cables nationwide.

The success of the tower deployment will depend on timely completion.