Abuja, Nigeria – Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a major infrastructure project that will see 4,000 new telecommunications towers deployed across underserved communities nationwide. The government stated the move is critical to closing the country’s rural digital divide and enhancing national security efforts.
The decision was announced by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, following the council meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.
Bridging the Connectivity Gap
The project directly targets the significant number of Nigerians currently lacking basic network access.
“About 23 million Nigerians are currently underserved, meaning that they are unable to do any form of communication due to the absence of some of these towers,” Minister Idris explained.
The massive tower rollout is expected to significantly improve rural connectivity, enabling basic voice and data services that are currently unavailable across large swathes of the country.
Impact on Security
The approval comes just a week after President Bola Tinubu declared a nationwide security emergency following a spate of kidnappings and unrest. The new infrastructure is seen as a key component of the government’s response.
According to the Minister, establishing the towers “will also help in fighting insecurity and enhancing commerce and economic activity.”
Security agencies heavily rely on functional telecommunications infrastructure for essential services such as:
- Emergency Calls: Enabling the use of emergency numbers (112/761).
- Coordination: Facilitating real-time communication in hard-to-reach areas.
- Intelligence: Aiding in cell-site triangulation and surveillance.
Poor network coverage, exacerbated by vandalism and high operating costs for existing towers, has long hampered security and law enforcement operations across rural Nigeria.
In addition to the telecom project, the FEC also approved the establishment of new agricultural mechanisation service centres across the country’s six geopolitical zones, aimed at boosting all-year-round farming.
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