Pecohub The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the deployment of 4,000 telecom towers across Nigeria to expand connectivity in underserved communities.
The approval was announced on Wednesday after the council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu, according to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris.
The decision comes as Nigeria intensifies efforts to close digital gaps affecting over 23 million citizens and improve access to communication, security, and economic inclusion.
What they are saying
Idris said the approval followed a joint memo from the Ministry of Digital Communications and the Ministry of Finance.
“There is also an approval by FEC granted to the Ministry of Digital Communications and the Ministry of Finance to establish service centres for agricultural mechanization and the digital economy on the deployment of towers to places that are currently underserved,” he said
The minister noted that the project aims directly at communities that lack basic digital access. According to him, under that program, about 4,000 towers will be erected in underserved communities.
Citing data presented by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Idris said about 23 million Nigerians are currently underserved, meaning they lack access to basic digital connectivity needed for meaningful activity.
He added that limited digital access has stifled economic participation and communication in remote regions, affecting livelihoods and public safety. Idris also said this will help in fighting insecurity and enhancing commerce and economic activity amongst the people of Nigeria.
Nigeria’s broadband penetration has grown slowly despite multiple federal initiatives. When the National Broadband Plan was launched in 2020, penetration stood at 39.85% with about 75.4 million broadband connections.
