The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the deployment of 4,000 telecommunications towers across Nigeria to expand digital connectivity in underserved communities. The approval was announced on Wednesday after a council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu, according to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris. The initiative is aimed at addressing persistent digital gaps affecting millions of citizens.
Idris said the approval followed a joint memo presented by the Ministry of Digital Communications and the Ministry of Finance. He noted that the project includes the establishment of service centres for agricultural mechanisation and digital economy expansion. According to him, the deployment targets communities currently lacking basic connectivity, with data showing that about 23 million Nigerians remain underserved.
The minister added that the absence of adequate digital access has affected economic participation, communication, and public safety in several remote regions. He said the new towers are expected to support security efforts and enhance commercial activity across the country. The initiative complements a broader national push to improve digital infrastructure, including the ongoing rollout of 90,000 kilometres of fibre-optic cables nationwide.
Nigeria’s broadband penetration remains below the targets set in the National Broadband Plan despite recent improvements. Penetration stood at 39.85% when the plan was launched in 2020 and reached 48.81% by May 2025, supported by 105.8 million broadband subscriptions. However, the figure remains short of the 70% goal, with progress hindered by factors such as high right-of-way charges, multiple taxation, and other policy barriers affecting infrastructure deployment.
