The Federal Government and telecom executives are renewing their commitment to bridging the digital divide, calling for stronger public-private collaboration to expand broadband access, particularly in rural areas, where 61 per cent of the population remains unconnected.
The call was made recently during a stakeholder engagement session organised by the Universal Service Provision Fund in Lagos, in partnership with the International Telecommunications Union and supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, acknowledged the progress Nigeria has made in broadband penetration but stressed that millions of people in remote areas still lack access to reliable digital services.
“Achieving universal connectivity requires a multi-sector approach, with telecom operators, infrastructure providers, and development agencies playing key roles,” Tijani told stakeholders at the event.
He said, “The Federal Government is committed to ensuring universal access to digital services, but this cannot be achieved alone. Stronger collaboration between the government and private sector players is essential to expanding connectivity and driving digital transformation.”
According to data from the Global System for Mobile Communications, Nigeria’s rural-urban mobile internet gap has narrowed over the years, dropping from 53 per cent in 2018 to 39 per cent in 2020. However, as of 2022, 61 per cent of Nigerians in rural areas still lack internet access, compared to 40 per cent in urban areas.
With a population of over 200 million, Nigeria’s internet penetration currently stands at 45.61 per cent, according to the latest figures from the Nigerian Communications Commission.
This means that while 91.22 million people are connected, approximately 108.78 million Nigerians remain offline, limiting their access to digital opportunities in education, finance, and e-commerce.
To address this, the government has launched several initiatives aimed at expanding broadband infrastructure, including Project BRIDGE, a 90,000 km fibre-optic rollout designed to improve nationwide connectivity.
Other initiatives include Project 774, which aims to deliver high-speed internet to every local government secretariat; the Universal Access Project, which targets over 20 million Nigerians without digital access; and the National Broadband Alliance of Nigeria, a multi-stakeholder effort to improve broadband quality.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, emphasised the need for innovative financing models and alternative power solutions to accelerate rural connectivity.
“Expanding telecom infrastructure in underserved areas requires a mix of public and private investment, as well as policies that encourage sustainable growth,” Maida said.
“We must harness our collective expertise and resources to build a resilient telecom infrastructure that empowers millions of Nigerians,’ he added.
Industry stakeholders at the event underscored the economic and social benefits of digital inclusion, noting that improved connectivity could unlock opportunities in financial inclusion, e-commerce, healthcare, and education.