Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has announced that the federal government’s new $2 billion broadband expansion project will play a major role in driving GDP growth and positioning the country as Africa’s next technology powerhouse.
Speaking at the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, Tijani said the initiative would provide universal broadband coverage across all 774 local government areas within three years, with a hybrid funding model — 49% from government and 51% from private investors. He described the project as a bold step to unlock Nigeria’s digital wealth through fibre-optic networks and innovation hubs.
“Connectivity is not optional; it’s the foundation of productivity,” Tijani stated, noting that while the ICT sector already contributes about 15% to Nigeria’s GDP, broadband penetration remains around 50%. He cited World Bank data showing that a 10% increase in broadband access could raise GDP by 2% annually.
The minister revealed that the initiative — backed by partners like the World Bank, IFC, and Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) — would classify broadband as critical national infrastructure. This, he explained, would attract more private investment and reduce operational costs for telecom firms.
Tijani also highlighted public-private partnerships such as the IHS Towers Innovation Hub, which is expected to train thousands of young Nigerians in digital skills and entrepreneurship, similar to successful models in India and Brazil. He added that improved rural broadband could inject up to $25 billion yearly into Nigeria’s agricultural output.
Through the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) Programme, the government will train digital workers in Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, data analytics, and cloud computing — with 4% focusing exclusively on AI. Tijani emphasized that “Nigeria cannot build a trillion-dollar economy without national connectivity.”
Echoing the minister’s optimism, IHS Nigeria CEO, Mohamad Darwish, praised Nigeria’s rapid digital evolution but noted that rural connectivity gaps and low digital literacy still hinder progress. He said sustained investment in digital infrastructure and skills training would strengthen competitiveness and fuel inclusive growth.
Darwish concluded that both the public and private sectors must work together to make digital technology the backbone of Nigeria’s productivity. “We cannot build a prosperous and inclusive Nigeria by 2030 without digital technology at its core,” he said.
