FG targets access, meaningful use of digital connectivity nationwide — Tijani

 

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, says the Federal Government is prioritising  access to telecommunications, and meaningful use of digital connectivity to deepen national development.

Tijani said this while addressing stakeholders at a Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) event organised by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Friday in Abuja.

The minister said that Nigeria has recorded significant progress in telecommunications since the introduction of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) with services becoming widely accessible and affordable to citizens.

“Today, connectivity is almost ubiquitous, compared to the early days, when even acquiring a SIM card was expensive. This reflects the progress we have made as a country,” he said.

Tijani said that the current administration was committed to deepening digital infrastructure through strategic investments, including the planned deployment of 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic network and about 4,000 telecommunications towers nationwide.

According to the minister, such scale of investment is unprecedented among developing countries, but acknowledged that millions of Nigerians, especially in rural and underserved communities, still lack adequate access to connectivity.

He underscored that the USPF had played a critical role in bridging the access gap through initiatives such as deployment of telecommunication towers and the establishment of computer laboratories in schools.

He harped on the need for a shift in focus from mere access, to ensuring meaningful use of digital infrastructure.

“It is not enough to connect communities; we must ensure that citizens derive value. Schools should be able to teach with digital tools and small businesses must access broader markets,” he said.

He recalled a pilot project in Kura community near Abuja, where about 12,000 residents previously had no access to telephony services.

The minister maintained that the intervention provided connectivity, linked the local school, hospital and enabled residents to access digital platforms for economic activities.

“Before now, farmers relied on intermediaries travelling to Abuja to connect with buyers. Today, they can communicate directly and transact more efficiently,” he said.

Tijani stated further that the project had also proven commercially viable, with increased daily internet usage and community-wide access to Wi-Fi.

He disclosed that the government planned to replicate such interventions across about 4,000 communities under ongoing initiatives, with a significant number targeted at northern Nigeria, where access gaps are widest.

He also emphasised the importance of digital literacy, affordable devices and sustainable project models, in achieving long-term impact.

He encouraged the USPF board to adopt innovative approaches, strengthen partnerships and prioritise outcomes over outputs in measuring success.

“We must move from counting the number of projects delivered, to assessing how many lives have been improved,” he said.

Tijani cautioned on the need for accountability in decision-making, stressing that the success or failure of interventions directly affected citizens.

The minister urged stakeholders to ensure that no community was left behind in the country’s digital transformation drive.

In his remarks, the Executive Vice-Chairman (EVC) of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, urged the USPF Board to prioritise meaningful connectivity in efforts to bridge Nigeria’s digital divide.

Maida said the minister’s leadership and oversight of multiple agencies had been demanding, adding that the inauguration of the USPF board would help reduce the workload and improve efficiency in delivering on its mandate.

According to the EVC NCC “The work of USPF is really about closing gaps. Historically, the focus has been on access gaps, especially in areas where it is not commercially viable for mobile network operators to operate.”

He recalled that in the early days of telecommunications expansion, operators concentrated on rolling out basic access, while USPF intervened in underserved and unserved communities.

He declared that Nigeria had evolved beyond that stage, calling for a shift toward ensuring that connectivity translated into tangible socio-economic benefits.

He noted that recent data shows significant growth in the telecommunications sector, with usage increasing by about 160 per cent in the past two years.

He added that much of the growth was concentrated in urban areas, thereby widening the gap between connected and unconnected populations.

“When we drill down, we see that a lot of that growth is actually in urban centres. So, the gap between those who are not connected or not meaningfully connected is growing,” he said.

Maida explained that the development placed a responsibility on the USPF board to intensify efforts at closing both access and usage gaps across the country.

The NCC boss acknowledged ongoing initiatives and adding that infrastructure alone was not sufficient.

“When you get into these communities, it is about having the right platforms that enable people to be productive. Connectivity must go beyond social media, to support economic growth and prosperity,” he stressed.

Maida expressed optimism about the board’s capacity to drive impactful interventions, stressing that its work would be critical to achieving inclusive digital development.

He reaffirmed the importance of leveraging connectivity to empower citizens, enhance productivity and ensure that no community was left behind.

The EVC NCC also expressed optimism that the board’s contributions would strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy and improve the quality of life for citizens.