Government says fibre deployment will begin within weeks, while 3,700 telecom towers and a new national postcode system are set to reshape connectivity and public services…..
Nigeria is set to embark on one of its most ambitious digital infrastructure projects, with the Federal Government announcing that work on a 90,000-kilometre fibre optic network will commence within the next few weeks.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, disclosed this after briefing President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on the progress of key initiatives under the ministry.
According to Tijani, all major financing, resource mobilisation and contractual arrangements for the nationwide fibre project have been completed, paving the way for physical construction to begin.
“We’re now at the point where, in a few weeks’ time, we should start laying the fibre, so Nigerians will begin seeing deployment activities across the country. This is a project that has the potential to transform Nigeria for good,” the minister said.
The expansive project is expected to extend fibre optic infrastructure to every state, geopolitical zone, local government area and ward, creating the backbone for improved broadband connectivity nationwide.
Tijani noted that the investment is aimed at significantly enhancing internet quality and expanding access to digital services, particularly in areas where connectivity has remained limited.
Beyond the fibre rollout, the Federal Government is also preparing to launch another major connectivity initiative. Beginning in October, about 3,700 telecommunications towers will be deployed across underserved communities to improve mobile network coverage.
The minister said the project, which received presidential approval, is expected to provide reliable network access to more than 20 million Nigerians who currently experience poor or no connectivity.
“It has taken significant effort to put the project together and secure the required funding, but we are now at the stage where deployment should begin around October,” he said.
Tijani also announced that Nigeria will introduce a new alphanumeric postcode system on October 1, describing it as a major step towards modernising the country’s addressing framework.
Unlike the existing system, the new postcode will assign a unique address to every property nationwide, making it easier to identify locations accurately.
He explained that the initiative is expected to strengthen logistics, support the growth of e-commerce, improve emergency response times and make public service delivery more efficient.
The minister further credited recent improvements in the telecommunications sector to reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration. These include the designation of digital infrastructure as critical national infrastructure, telecom tariff adjustments and tax harmonisation measures, which he said have helped create a more favourable environment for investment and expansion.
With the fibre rollout, telecom tower deployment and national postcode system all scheduled to move forward in the coming months, the government says the initiatives represent a significant step toward accelerating Nigeria’s digital transformation and expanding access to reliable connectivity across the country.
