*Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, Minister for Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy, explains the key objective of investing in 70,000 additional telecoms towers is to close the existing connectivity gap towards making Nigeria the ‘most inclusive digital economy’ in Africa

Gbenga Kayode | 绿帽献妻

In line with ongoing efforts at bridging the existing connectivity gap in the ecosystem, the Federal Government has confirmed it is making investments in 70,000 additional telecommunications towers.

The government disclosed plans contains over 80 percent of the new telecoms towers would be based in the Northern part of the West African country.

绿帽献妻 reports Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, Honourable Minister for Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy (FMCIDE), restated this Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Katsina State.

Tijani, who spoke at the Arewa Tech Fest 2.0, hosted by the Katsina State Government, revealed the core objective of the fresh investments in the telecoms equipment is to close the existing connectivity gap.

Nigeria, as of 2022, had over 34,800 telecoms towers, with the majority being owned by IHS Towers and Globacom Limited.

Lagos had the highest number of towers in the country, followed by Ogun and Rivers states. The Federal Government has plans to deploy 70,000 new telecom towers, with over 80 percent located in northern Nigeria, a report said.

The Minister for FMCIDE further said the fresh investments in telecoms towers are also targeted at making Nigeria the “most inclusive digital economy” in Africa, where no community is left behind.

The Minister further announced that the 90,000 kilometers of fiber optic network is planned to connect every corner of Nigeria, as one of the Federal Government鈥檚 biggest investments in the digital space.

On policy initiatives to unlock national productivity

Highlighting the government’s efforts at maximising the economy, Dr. Tijani asserted: 鈥淯nder President Tinubu鈥檚 Renewed Hope agenda, we have focus on foundational initiatives that can unlock national productivity.

鈥淥ne of our biggest investments in the digital space is the 90,000 kilometers of fiber optic network aimed at connecting every corner of the country.”

He further stated: 鈥淚n addition to this, the government is preparing investments in 70,000 telecommunications towers of which over 80 percent of them will be based in the Northern part of Nigeria to close the existing connectivity gap.

“Our goal is to make Nigeria the most inclusive digital economy in Africa where no community is left behind.”

The Minister as well noted that under President Tinubu鈥檚 Renewed Hope agenda, FMCIDE has focused on foundational initiatives that can unlock national productivity in the Nigerian economy.

He averred: 鈥淭his tech festival today (Wednesday) is not just an event; it has a strong signal from Katsina, the Arewa states, and a signal that Arewa is ready.

鈥淚, therefore, challenge participants, particularly the innovators in the room, that you don鈥檛 need to move to Lagos or Abuja to be successful.”

Tijani rather told his audience: “All you need is also not to wait for formation, because all you need is yourself and your formation.

鈥淲e are building a Nigeria that works for everyone in a nation where being born in Katsina or Kano is not at the disadvantage but a strategic advantage.

鈥淭he future of Nigeria and that of Africa is not being written in the Silicon Valley of Lagos or Abuja but being written right here today in Katsina.”

Minister’s message for Nigerian young innovators, investors, others

Tijani as well advised young Nigerians to showcase their innovations for investors and philanthropists to see what they can do to assist in activating them.

Jafar Alabi, one of the participants in the Arewa Tech Fest 2.0, advised his colleagues to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) in their works in order to move forward and not be left behind.

Katsina’s transition from analogue to digital economy

Speaking on the basic goal of the Arewa Tech Fest 2.0, Dr. Muttaka Rabe Darma, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), in an interview, said he expected a lot of positive changes at the end of the festival.

Dr. Darma noted the participants are expected to develop solutions to lingering socioeconomic and security challenges facing Katsina State, Channels TV report said.

The LOC Chairman projected that at the end of the day, Katsina State would be the greatest beneficiary, and would transition from the analogue economy to digital one.

About 10,000 technology investors and technology initiators attended the Arewa Tech Fest 2.0., which was the second version of its kind in Northern Nigeria.

It is recalled the first version of the festival tagged: 鈥淚nnovating for Impact: Technology as a Catalyst for Economic Transformation”, had held 2024, in Kano State, with a resounding success.

Hence, stakeholders are poised to ensure that they triple the success of Kano in Katsina State, report stated.

It us also noted that entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, government institutions, academia, development partners, media, and the general public were invited to take part in the historic festival.

No wonder that participants, cutting across the 19 Northern States, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, gathered not only to share success stories regarding the tech fest but also to share failures, challenges, and setbacks faced in the course of their digital journey in the country’s ecosystem.

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