• Government targets underserved areas with new tower rollout
• Over 20 million Nigerians still lack basic connectivity
• Project is part of broader digital infrastructure expansion plan

Nigeria plans to deploy 1,000 new telecom towers across the country by the end of the year, as part of efforts to strengthen its digital infrastructure.

The announcement was made on March 31 in Abuja by Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy Bosun Tijani during a meeting on the National Digital Economy Research Hubs Program, an initiative under the World Bank-funded BRIDGE project.

The president, Bola Tinubu, has approved the construction of 3,700 base stations nationwide, with at least 1,000 expected to become operational this year, Tijani said, noting that more than 20 million Nigerians still live in areas with no connectivity at all.

The project will prioritize rural and underserved regions, where access to telecommunications services remains limited. By increasing network density, authorities aim to reduce coverage gaps and provide more reliable connectivity to both households and local businesses.

Beyond these new installations, the program is part of a broader strategy to expand digital infrastructure. It includes plans to deploy thousands of additional towers and extend the national fiber-optic network. The goal is to build a more robust telecom network capable of meeting rising demand for digital services.

In a country where 120 million people were still offline in 2023, according to data from the GSMA, improving network coverage is seen as a key lever for advancing digital inclusion.

Adoni Conrad Quenum