Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, announced today groundbreaking initiatives aimed at bolstering digital connectivity across Nigeria, following approvals secured during the Federal Executive Council meeting.
Addressing the media, Dr. Tijani highlighted the pivotal approvals, emphasizing their potential to significantly benefit both the Nigerian populace and the burgeoning digital startup ecosystem.
The first approval entails the launch of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) dedicated to advancing the delivery of an additional 90,000 kilometers of fiber optic cable. This initiative seeks to complement existing connectivity infrastructure, fortifying the national backbone to ensure universal internet access throughout Nigeria.b
Dr. Tijani outlined the meticulous groundwork undertaken to establish the SPV, drawing inspiration from successful Public-Private Partnership models such as NIBSS and NLNG. In collaboration with government and private sector stakeholders, the SPV aims to expand Nigeria’s connectivity backbone to a minimum of 125,000 kilometers, positioning it as Africa’s third-longest terrestrial fiber optic backbone, trailing only Egypt and South Africa.
This expanded coverage is poised to leverage Nigeria’s eight submarine cables, driving increased data capacity utilization beyond the current 10%. Through partnerships like the Broadband Alliance, the enhanced connectivity will bridge existing gaps by linking over 200,000 educational, healthcare, and social institutions nationwide, fostering greater societal inclusion in the benefits of internet access.
The immediate benefits of these initiatives include:
1. Elevating internet penetration in Nigeria to over 70%
2. Potentially reducing the cost of internet access by over 60%
3. Enabling internet access for at least 50% of the 33 million Nigerians currently excluded
4. Stimulating up to 1.5% GDP growth per capita, propelling GDP from $472.6 billion (2022) to $502 billion over the next four years.
Dr. Tijani concluded his remarks by expressing optimism about the transformative impact of these initiatives, signifying a significant step towards #NigerianExcellence in digital connectivity.
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