Minister Advocates Collaborations as 20m Nigerians Lack Digital Access

Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani has said achieving robust digital connectivity in Nigeria is not an exclusive duty of the government.

He added that to connect some 20 million Nigerians who currently lack access to connectivity and digital access will require strategic collaborations among key stakeholders.

He made this assertion in Lagos on Thursday at a stakeholders’ engagement forum organised by the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to strengthen telecom infrastructure in unserved and underserved communities

The Minister stressed the need for strong collaborations between the public and private sectors, development agencies, civil society organisations, and local communities to drive meaningful impact in bridging digital divide.

To achieve effective collaboration, he identified four key pillars of community engagement, leveraging existence infrastructure, capacity building, and sustainable solutions.

The Minister stated that so far, significant progress has been made in expanding connectivity and reinforcing Nigeria’s digital infrastructure, ascribing this to “the clear vision and ambition of President Bola Tinubu for infrastructure development and societal progress”.

L-R: Representative of the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (UK FCDO), Udoh Indogesit; Nigeria National Consultant, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Ogundipe Olubunmi; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMoCIDE), Faruk Yabo; Hon. Minister, FMoCIDE, Dr. Bosun Tijani; Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Aminu Maida and Secretary, Universal Service Provision Fund, Yomi Arowosafe, during the Industry-focused Stakeholders Engagement Session organised by the USPF of the Commission in collaboration with ITU and UK FCDO in Lagos on Thursday.

He further noted that achieving high-quality connectivity requires substantial investments in digital infrastructure.

Dr. Tijani pointed out that broadband penetration has grown significantly in recent years, bringing millions of Nigerians online and unlocking new opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital inclusion.

To further bridge the connectivity gap, he outlined several initiatives of the Federal Government, including Project BRIDGE, Project 774, the Universal Access Project, the National Broadband Alliance of Nigeria, and the 3 Million Technical Talent Programme (3MTT).

According to him, “These initiatives aim to enhance broadband penetration, expand fibre optic infrastructure, and promote digital literacy nationwide.”

Meanwhile, the USPF has organised the industry-focused stakeholders’ forum as part of efforts to ensure fair and equitable access to telecommunications services for all Nigerians,

Themed “Fostering Collaboration for Sustainable Telecommunication Infrastructure in Unserved and Underserved Communities,” the event brought together key industry players to discuss strategies for enhancing USPF interventions and fostering partnerships to accelerate Nigeria’s digital transformation.

Also speaking at the forum, the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, underscored the critical role of collaboration in achieving sustainable development in the sector.

While he corroborated the minister, emphasising collaboration as essential to bridging the digital divide, he encouraged stakeholders to work collectively towards building resilient telecommunications infrastructure, ensuring that no community is left behind in Nigeria’s digital future.

He further urged decisive actions to strengthen partnerships and establish a robust and sustainable telecom ecosystem.