By Chimezie Godfrey
The Federal Government has unveiled plans to deepen broadband penetration and digital inclusion through an ambitious rollout of 95,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable across the country by 2027.
This move, being driven by the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, is part of Nigeria’s broader strategy to strengthen its digital public infrastructure and stimulate economic diversification through innovation and technology.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 18th International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance (ICEGOV 2025) in Abuja, the Special Adviser on Innovation and Research to the Director-General/CEO of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Lukman Lamid, said the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s priority to enhance governance and improve service delivery through digitisation.
Lamid noted that the ICEGOV conference, which convened global experts, researchers, and policymakers for five days, produced a compendium of well-researched papers and actionable recommendations expected to guide Nigeria’s digital policy framework.
“One of the recommendations is to strengthen policy and monetise some of the policies we already have in terms of infrastructure.
“We are building Nigeria’s digital public infrastructure and want to ensure that everyone—right to the last mile—has access to the internet,”Lamid explained.
According to him, the broadband rollout project will be transformative, expanding connectivity to underserved and rural areas, which in turn will boost e-commerce, online education, health innovation, and remote work opportunities.
“Imagine what this can do to the economy when more people can have access to the Internet. We want to go a long way in improving our digital economy and diversifying the economy generally,” she said.
Lamid assured that NITDA would ensure the implementation of the key recommendations derived from the conference, noting that “the best papers and propositions will be translated into measurable impact for Nigeria’s digital transformation.”
Also speaking, Prof. Tomasz Jelowski of Gdańsk University of Technology, Poland, and the University for Continuing Education, Austria, described ICEGOV as a unique platform linking digital governance researchers with policymakers and practitioners, particularly across the developing world.
“The most important impact is connecting Nigerian researchers with their counterparts across the global north and south,” he said. “We hope ICEGOV contributes significantly to fostering collaboration in digital governance research across Africa.”
Director of the United Nations University’s Electronic Governance Unit (UNU-EGOV), Delphine Soares, expressed satisfaction with Nigeria’s growing commitment to digital transformation, saying that the country’s engagement since 2018 has deepened through continuous participation in global digital governance forums.
“There are multiple levels of impact. One of them is the strengthened community of experts and policymakers that emerged here,” Soares said. “The exchange of information about the latest frameworks, challenges, and opportunities in digital technologies is another significant impact.”»
She added that digital transformation is both an opportunity and a challenge and urged continued global cooperation to ensure technologies promote inclusion, accountability, and good governance.
“What we expect from ICEGOV is that it remains a platform where stakeholders can reflect jointly on how digital technologies can create good governance and improve citizens’ lives,” she said.
The Program Committee Chairman of ICEGOV 2025, Prof. Adegboyaga Ojo of Carleton University, Canada, emphasised the importance of African nations taking ownership of their digital agenda.
“Africa needs to own it. The digital transformation will not be handed over to us—we have to identify our needs and adapt technologies to solve our problems,” Ojo said.
He noted that hosting ICEGOV in Nigeria demonstrates the country’s readiness to participate in global conversations on emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and their potential to reform governance, improve service delivery, and transform economies.
“Technology can fundamentally change how governments work internally, make policies, and deliver services,” Ojo added. “The conference provides an opportunity for Nigeria to draw from global experiences and local realities to drive practical innovation.”
Throughout the conference, speakers highlighted the crucial role of digital infrastructure in driving Nigeria’s socio-economic growth. The expansion of broadband access, particularly through the 95,000km fibre optic rollout, is expected to catalyse innovation, attract foreign investment, and create new job opportunities across sectors.
The initiative, experts say, aligns with Nigeria’s National Broadband Plan (2020–2025) and supports global efforts to close the digital divide, ensuring that citizens, regardless of location, have equal access to information and opportunities.
As the curtains fell on ICEGOV 2025, participants agreed that Nigeria’s active engagement and commitment to implementing digital policies could position it as a leading hub for electronic governance and innovation in Africa.
Lamid summed it up succinctly:“What we have achieved here is not just academic. It is about shaping the digital future of Nigeria through collaboration, innovation, and inclusion.”
Nigeria Targets 95,000km Broadband Rollout by 2027 to Boost Digital Economy
