The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, says Nigeria’s $2 billion broadband project will drive economic growth, deepen digital inclusion, and enhance the country’s global competitiveness.
He spoke during the Smart Growth, Digital Leap plenary at the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit (NES 31) held in Abuja.
According to Tijani, the broadband initiative—co-financed by 49 percent government contribution and 51 percent private sector funding with support from partners such as the World Bank and International Finance Corporation (IFC)—is designed to deliver universal broadband coverage across all 774 local government areas within three years.
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Citing World Bank data, the minister noted that a 10 percent increase in broadband penetration could raise Nigeria’s GDP by up to 2 percent annually.
He explained that classifying broadband as critical national infrastructure would attract greater investment, reduce telecom costs, and accelerate digital transformation across sectors.
Tijani added that the project will also support the expansion of innovation hubs such as IHS Towers’ Innovation Centre, train thousands of Nigerians under the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, and boost productivity in key sectors like agriculture by as much as $25 billion yearly.
