Digital Economy: The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to bridging the digital gap, ensuring that every Nigerian benefits from the country’s growing digital landscape.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting of the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) in Lagos State on Thursday, the Hon. Minister emphasized that while Nigeria has made a remarkable progress in broadband penetration and digital infrastructure, millions of Nigerians, particularly in rural and underserved areas, still lack access to digital assets.
“Today, we must address this gap collectively to ensure that no one is left behind in our journey toward a fully connected and digitally empowered Nigeria,” the minister stated.
The Minister highlighted that to achieve this, the Federal Government is rolling out several strategic initiatives; Project BRIDGE, a 90,000km fibre optic expansion project, aims to boost broadband access nationwide. Project 774 is designed to provide high-speed internet to all 774 local government secretariats in Nigeria. The Universal Access Project (UAP) is targeted at connecting over 20 million Nigerians currently without access to digital services. The National Broadband Alliance of Nigeria (NBAN) is a collaborative effort to drive broadband access through public and private partnerships. Additionally, the 3 Million Technical Talent Programme (3MTT) is focused on building a skilled workforce to sustain Nigeria’s digital economy.
Dr. Tijani stressed that bridging the digital divide requires joint efforts from the government, private sector, and development partners. He highlighted four key areas for achieving this goal: community engagement, leveraging existing infrastructure, capacity building, and sustainable solutions.
“As we work towards a $1 trillion economy, we must invest in last-mile connectivity, digital skills development, and innovative policies that drive rapid deployment of digital infrastructure,” he added.
The minister called on all stakeholders to join hands in ensuring universal digital access by 2030, emphasizing that Nigeria’s most valuable resource remains its people. “Together, we can unlock the full potential of our nation,” he concluded.
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