The Federal Government says it is taking significant strides to extend connectivity and strengthen its digital technology infrastructure, toward bridging the digital divide in rural areas.
Dr Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, said this at an Industry-focused stakeholders’ engagement session on Thursday in Lagos.
The session was organised by the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The session had the theme: “Strengthening Partnership for Sustainable Telecommunication Infrastructure in the Unserved and Underserved Communities: Collaborating for Sustainable Growth”.
Tijani said that government’s vision was to connect every Nigerian to the digital economy, with a focus on underserved communities.
He said that sustainable progress required strong partnerships across the public and private sectors, development agencies, civil society, and local communities.
The minister said that government’s flagship initiatives, such as Project BRIDGE, Project 774, and the Universal Access Project, aimed to bridge the digital divide and unlock digital opportunities for millions of Nigerians.
He said the Universal Access Project targeted connecting over 20 million Nigerians, who had no access to digital services, promoting digital inclusion and economic growth.
Tijani said that government’s strategic plan focused on five key pillars, including knowledge; policy; infrastructure; innovation; and trade, with initiatives such as training three million tech talents and increasing digital literacy to 70 per cent by 2027.
Also speaking, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Aminu Maida, said the commission had been working to expand access to telecommunications services in unserved and underserved communities, through the USPF.
Maida acknowledged the crucial role of strategic collaboration/partnerships, and complementary efforts to achieve sustainable development.
“The evolving telecommunications landscape necessitates innovative and collaborative approaches to ensure long-term viability in delivering connectivity to unserved and underserved populations,” he said.
Maida said that a multi-stakeholder approach remained essential to achieving digital inclusion.
According to him, the approach will ensure that no community is left behind in the digital economy and that everyone has access to broadband connectivity.
“NCC is committed to working with stakeholders, to build a resilient and sustainable telecommunications infrastructure,” he said.
In his welcome address, the USPF Secretary, Mr Oluyomi Arowosafe, reaffirmed commitment to expanding inclusive connectivity in underserved communities.
Arowosafe said there was need for community engagement and participation in the project.
According to him, this will ensure that the needs of local communities are taken into account and that the project is tailored to meet their specific needs.
He also emphasised the need for capacity building and training programmes, as this would ensure that local communities had the necessary skills and expertise, to manage and maintain the telecommunications infrastructure.
In his remarks, Mr Faruk Yabo, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, said that NCC had been working tirelessly to expand access to telecommunications services in rural areas.
Yabo said that NCC had created conducive policy and regulatory environment, facilitating easy access to licenses and permits, allowing operators to repatriate their capital.
He said that this had enabled continuous expansion of telecom services, with the government working to address existing gaps in connectivity.
“Notably, the government plans to provide access to all 774 local government areas using satellites and last-mile fiber connectivity.
“The USPF has been fully integrated into Nigeria’s telecom business, providing funds to local developers to create Base Transceiver Stations in areas where traditional Mobile Network Operators may not venture, due to limited business returns.”