*Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister for Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, at a forum in Lagos, affirms though Broadband penetration has improved significantly in recent years, there are still millions of Nigerian consumers on 鈥榯he fringes of digital transformation who are yet to have access to reliable connectivity鈥�

Gbenga Kayode | 绿帽献妻

As Broadband penetration in Nigeria has been growing significantly, in the last few decades, there are yet millions more Nigerian consumers on the fringes of digital transformation, who are yet to have access to reliable connectivity.

绿帽献妻 reports Dr. Bosun Tijani, Honourable Minister for Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE), said this in his remarks at the industry-focused stakeholders鈥� engagement forum of the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) held Thursday, March 13, 2025, in Lagos.

The Commission organised the forum with the theme, 鈥淪trengthening Partnership for Sustainable Telecommunication Infrastructure in the Unserved and Underserved Communities: Collaborating for Sustainable Growth鈥�, under the auspices of the USPF in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) with the support of United Kingdom (UK) Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

High-speed Broadband Internet聽

Dr. Tijani noted that Nigeria has recorded significant strides in expanding connectivity and strengthening our digital technology infrastructure over the past 25 years.

He stated that Broadband penetration has been growing significantly in recent years, bringing millions more Nigerian consumers online while enabling fresh opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital inclusion in the country鈥檚 space.

The Minister, however, observed that 鈥渢here are still millions of Nigerians on the fringes of digital transformation who are yet to have access to reliable connectivity.

Major barriers to reliable connectivity in rural and unserved communities, by Tijani

Highlighting the major challenges to sustainable digital connectivity in underserved and unserved areas in the country, Tijani also said: 鈥淢any communities鈥攑articularly rural areas鈥攆ace significant barriers, including inadequate infrastructure and limited digital literacy.

鈥淭hese gaps not only hinder personal and business growth but also limit the full potential of Nigeria鈥檚 digital economy.鈥�

Explaining the key role of the Universal Service Provision Fund in the implementation of the Nigerian Government鈥檚 digital projects over time, he stated the USPF has been 鈥渁 critical instrument in the Federal Government鈥檚 mission to extend connectivity to these communities.鈥�

According to him, by supporting infrastructure expansion, fostering local innovation, and driving inclusive policies, the Fund is aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu鈥檚 goal of enabling meaningful and affordable connectivity for all Nigerian digital consumers.

Some transformative projects to unlock digital opportunities for millions

Underscoring the importance of infrastructure expansion with inclusive government policies and programmes, Minister Tijani further noted the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy is equally 鈥渁ctively driving transformative projects鈥� aimed at unlocking digital opportunities for millions of Nigerians.

He disclosed some of our flagship initiatives to close this divide include: Project BRIDGE (90,000km Fibre Optic Expansion), which is designed to significantly improve Broadband penetration across Nigeria by extending fibre optic infrastructure to all regions.

Project 774, an initiative to ensure that every local government secretariat in Nigeria benefits from high-speed connectivity, fostering grassroots digital transformation.

Tijani listed others to include the Universal Access Project, a game-changing initiative targeted at connecting over 20 million Nigerians who currently have no access to digital services.

The National Broadband Alliance of Nigeria (NBAN), which is a multi-stakeholder effort at driving collaboration across government and private sector to drive universal high quality Broadband access

The 3 Million Technical Talent programme (3MTT) that is strengthening the Nigerian talent pipeline to deliver a workforce to improve the digital ecosystem.

鈥淭hese projects are not just focussed on infrastructure; but also about enabling businesses, empowering individuals, and unlocking the full economic potential of Nigeria鈥檚 digital landscape as we work towards a 1 Trillion Dollar Economy,鈥� said he.

On multi-stakeholder partnerships to bridge digital divide in Nigeria

The Minister, in his remarks at the event, also said that bridging the digital divide in Nigeria is not a task for the government alone.

Dr. Tijani noted that sustainable and impactful progress requires strong partnerships across the public and private sectors, development agencies, civil society, and local communities.

In order to ensure effective collaboration, the Minister emphasised the West African country must focus on the following four key pillars, including:

1. Community Engagement: By understanding and addressing the unique needs of our local communities, we can encourage their participation which is crucial to ensuring that the digital infrastructure solutions provided digital are relevant, accessible, and adopted at scale.
2. Leveraging Existing Infrastructure: We must maximise the value of the existing investment in networks, public facilities, and energy sources to optimise costs and ensure rapid deployment of connectivity solutions.
3. Capacity Building: Access to the internet is only beneficial if people have the skills to use it productively. Therefore, ensuring that Digital literacy programs, skills training, and entrepreneurship development are integrated into our overall infrastructure and connectivity strategy, and
4. Sustainable Solutions: The future of connectivity in Nigeria must be economically and environmentally sustainable therefore, we should explore innovative business models, alternative energy solutions, and localised interventions that ensure long-term sucess.

Therefore, as Nigeria stands at a defining moment in its digital transformation drive, the Minister averred 鈥渨e have the vision, the policy framework, and the will to connect every Nigerian to the digital economy.

鈥淏ut we need your partnership to explore alternative innovative ways to deliver on all elements of our plans.鈥�

Tijani equally stated: 鈥淭here is a clear role for everyone – Government at all levels, Private Sector, Development Partners and local communities in this journey.

鈥淭ogether, with a clear focus on investment in last-mile connectivity, capacity building and infrastructure development as well as the creation of policies that enable the rapid deployment of digital infrastructure, we can achieve universal access to communications and digital literacy for all Nigerians by 2030.鈥�

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