FG to deploy 3,700 towers for 20m Nigerians

The Federal Government is set to deploy 3,700 telecommunications towers to provide network access to nearly 20 million Nigerians currently living in areas without coverage.

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, announced this on Friday during the launch of the Nigeria Universal Communication Access Project (NUCAP), with the commissioning of its first site in Amaeke, Bende Local Government Area of Abia State.

In a post on X, Tijani said the project would extend telecommunications services to communities that had remained without network coverage, with more sites scheduled for launch in the coming days, weeks and months.

He said the initiative was designed to ensure that residents of underserved communities could access economic and social opportunities that depend on reliable telecommunications services.

“Imagine going a whole day without a phone signal. You cannot call your family, you can’t receive a payment, and if someone needs urgent help, you cannot make that call,” the minister said.

Tijani noted that the lack of network coverage affected people whose livelihoods depended on communication, including farmers seeking buyers for their produce, traders awaiting payments and families trying to reach healthcare workers.

“Think about a farmer who needs to find a buyer, that trader waiting for payment, the mother trying to reach a health worker,” he said.

According to him, the commissioning of the first site in Amaeke, Bende LGA, marked the beginning of a broader rollout to connect more communities across the country.

The minister said the project aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s ambition to build a $1 trillion economy by expanding digital access and enabling more Nigerians to participate in economic activities.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ambition for a $1 trillion economy requires every Nigerian to have the opportunity to contribute and share in its prosperity. That is why this investment matters,” Tijani said.

He urged communities without network coverage that had not been included in the deployment plan to submit their locations to the ministry for consideration.

Tijani said the initiative formed part of the Federal Government’s efforts to deepen digital inclusion and ensure that geographical location did not prevent Nigerians from accessing economic and social opportunities.