FG to commence 90,000km fibre optic rollout

The Federal Government has announced plans to begin the rollout of a 90,000-kilometre fibre optic network across Nigeria within the next few weeks to expand broadband access and drive the country’s digital economy.

Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, disclosed this on Tuesday after briefing President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Tijani said all funding arrangements and contractual processes for the nationwide project had been concluded, paving the way for deployment.

“In a few weeks, Nigerians will begin to see us laying fibre across the country. This project will transform Nigeria for good,” he said.

According to the minister, the network will span all 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory, local government areas and wards, improving internet connectivity and the quality of digital services nationwide.

He also credited recent reforms under the Tinubu administration for boosting the communications sector, including the designation of digital infrastructure as Critical National Infrastructure, tariff adjustments and efforts to harmonise taxes.

Tijani said the reforms had increased the sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product from between 16 and 18 per cent to nearly 21 per cent.

The minister further revealed that the government would begin deploying about 3,700 telecommunications towers from October to extend network coverage to more than 20 million Nigerians living in underserved and unserved communities.

He also announced plans to launch a national alphanumeric postcode system on October 1, which will assign every property a unique address to improve e-commerce, security, emergency response and public service delivery.