Senator Shuaib Salis, who leads the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security, has said that Nigeria will soon build a 90,000-kilometre fibre optic network. This project aims to improve internet access across the country.
He made this announcement on Monday in Abeokuta at the opening of the 2025 Press Week, organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun State branch.
The theme of the event was “The Future of Journalism: Navigating AI and Objective Reporting.” The senator said this new fibre project would greatly improve how people in Nigeria communicate digitally.
He explained that the Federal Government, led by President Bola Tinubu, plans to install the fibre optic network across all states, local governments, and wards in Nigeria.
He stressed that the fibre optic lines would reach every part of the country—not just some states or cities, but every single ward.
He pointed out that research shows that if fibre optic internet increases by 10%, the country’s economy could grow by at least 2%. So, improving internet access could help Nigeria’s economy grow.
He added that if every ward in Nigeria had fibre optic access, it would bring many benefits. He also shared that he recently returned from the United Nations General Assembly with Minister of Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, where they invited foreign investors to support this project in Nigeria.
The senator also talked about the challenges AI brings to journalism. He said AI could make it easier for unqualified people to spread false or misleading news.
He suggested that schools teaching journalism and mass communication should include more technology training in their courses to prepare future journalists.
Also speaking at the event, Ogun State Head of Service, Mr. Kehinde Onasanya, focused on the importance of ethics in journalism.
He pointed out that Nigeria does not yet have clear rules about telling the public when content—like pictures, audio, or videos—is created using AI.
He encouraged the NUJ to create a code of practice that journalists across Nigeria can follow when using AI in their work.
In his speech, the NUJ Chairman, Wale Olanrewaju, said that the council has made a lot of progress in less than three years.
He noted that AI has changed how news is collected, edited, and shared with the public.
He said it is the union’s job to help journalists not only adjust to these changes but also lead in using technology responsibly. He emphasized that tech should improve the trust people have in journalists, not harm it.
The event included a panel discussion led by Professor Dele Odunlami, Dean of Social Sciences at Olabisi Onabanjo University.
The panel featured Mr. Kunle Durosimi, who leads the Ogun Tech Community and works at West Midlands Open University, and Mr. Lekan Adeeko, an AI expert and co-founder of Tedprime Hub.
They discussed both the good and bad sides of using AI in journalism.
The speakers advised journalists to always remain professional when using AI. They said that, if used well, AI can help bring people together and promote unity in Nigeria.
