Nigeria Seeks Collaboration to Bridge Digital Divide

Nigeria’s government has called for greater collaboration between public and private sectors to improve connectivity in underserved communities.

Speaking at a stakeholder engagement session, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, highlighted the progress made in expanding broadband access but acknowledged that millions of Nigerians still lack reliable connectivity, particularly in rural areas.

He outlined several government initiatives, including Project BRIDGE, aimed at expanding fibre optic infrastructure, and Project 774, which seeks to connect all local government secretariats.

“Bridging this digital divide is not a task for the government alone,” Dr. Tijani stated. “Sustainable and impactful progress requires strong partnerships across the public and private sectors, development agencies, civil society, and local communities.”

He emphasised four key pillars for effective collaboration: community engagement, leveraging existing infrastructure, capacity building, and sustainable solutions.

Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), echoed the call for collaboration, stressing the importance of strategic partnerships to ensure equitable access to telecommunications services.

“The evolving telecommunications landscape necessitates innovative and collaborative approaches to ensure long-term viability in delivering connectivity to unserved and underserved populations,” Dr. Maida said.

He highlighted the role of the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) in providing universal access and service, pointing to projects like the deployment of Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) and Backbone Transmission and Infrastructure.

Mr. Maida urged stakeholders to explore innovative financing models, leverage emerging technologies, and promote policies that incentivise collaborative participation in connectivity projects.

“Let us harness our collective expertise, resources, and innovative capabilities to build a resilient and sustainable telecommunication infrastructure that will empower millions of Nigerians,” he concluded.