As Nigeria continues to receive massive investments in its telecoms infrastructure, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has insisted that such expansion must add value to the citizens. Tijani, who spoke at the weekend at the inauguration of the Board of the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), in Abuja, stressed that expanding network coverage alone was no longer sufficient, as he called for a stronger focus on how connectivity that can improve livelihoods, support businesses, and deepen inclusion across the country.
The minister noted that while Nigeria has made steady progress since the advent of GSM, access to telecom services still does not automatically translate into economic opportunity for many Nigerians, especially in rural communities. “It is not enough to connect a community. We must ensure that schools are able to teach with digital tools and that small businesses can access opportunities in the market,” he said.
Tijani pointed out that digital technology now sits at the centre of modern economies, making it critical for connectivity to move beyond basic access and begin to deliver measurable outcomes for users. He cited a pilot project in a rural community near Abuja where the deployment of telecom infrastructure changed how residents communicate and do business.
Recalling that before the intervention, residents depended on occasional trips to urban centres to access mobile networks, and that with connectivity now available, daily communication and market access had improved significantly.
According to the minister, “This simply shows that when properly deployed, telecom infrastructure can directly impact local economies and quality of life.” He disclosed that the federal government was investing heavily in digital infrastructure, including plans to roll out about 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic network and nearly 4,000 telecom towers nationwide, with a significant portion targeted at underserved areas.
He, however, emphasised that infrastructure rollout must be matched with efforts to ensure people can make practical use of the technology. The minister also called for a rethink in how success is measured within the sector, urging stakeholders to prioritise outcomes over the number of projects executed.
“Some past interventions have not delivered lasting value, largely due to weak sustainability plans, we must adopt approaches that ensure projects remain functional and relevant over time,” Tijani noted. Also speaking, Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Aminu Maida described the inauguration as a critical step in strengthening efforts to bridge connectivity gaps across the country.
Maida said although data usage has grown rapidly in recent years, much of the increase is concentrated in urban centres, leaving rural communities at a disadvantage. “The task ahead is not only to extend coverage but also to ensure that connectivity supports economic activity and development in underserved areas,” the NCC boss emphasised.
