The federal government has announced plans to deploy 3,700 telecommunications towers to provide network coverage to nearly 20 million Nigerians currently living in underserved and unconnected communities.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, announced the initiative, known as the Nigeria Universal Communication Access Project (NUCAP), during the commissioning of its first site in Amaeke, Bende Local Government Area of Abia State.
Tijani said the project would extend telecommunications services to communities that have remained without network coverage, with more sites scheduled for commissioning in the coming days, weeks and months.
In a statement on his X account, the minister said the initiative was designed to ensure that residents of underserved communities could access economic and social opportunities that depend on reliable telecommunications services.
He explained that the absence of network coverage had significant consequences for residents, particularly those who rely on mobile communication to conduct business, receive payments and access essential services.
“Imagine going a whole day without a phone signal. You cannot call your family, you can’t receive a payment, and if someone needs urgent help, you cannot make that call,” Tijani said.
He highlighted the difficulties faced by farmers trying to reach buyers, traders waiting for payments and mothers seeking to contact healthcare workers.
According to the minister, the commissioning of the first tower in Amaeke marks the beginning of a wider rollout aimed at bringing more communities within telecommunications coverage.
Tijani said the project also aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s ambition to build a $1trillion economy by ensuring that Nigerians, regardless of where they live, have opportunities to participate in and benefit from economic growth.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ambition for a $1 trillion economy requires every Nigerian to have the opportunity to contribute and share in its prosperity. That is why this investment matters,” he said.
The minister encouraged communities without network coverage that had not been included in the deployment plan to report their locations to the ministry for consideration.
He said expanding telecommunications infrastructure remained an important part of the federal government’s efforts to promote digital inclusion and prevent geographical location from limiting access to economic and social opportunities.
The project is expected to extend connectivity to communities where residents have been unable to enjoy reliable telecommunications services, potentially improving access to communication, business transactions and essential services.
