FG plans 3,700 telecom towers in rural areas

The Federal Government plans to bankroll the construction of 3,700 telecom towers in rural areas, a move aimed at connecting millions of citizens who currently lack reliable mobile and internet services.

Telecom operators often avoid sparsely populated rural areas due to low profit potential, focusing instead on urban centres where investment can be recouped. The government’s intervention will extend mobile and internet services to over 23 million Nigerians who presently lack access.

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Bosun Tijani said the initiative has been approved by President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Executive Council.

“At the recent Federal Executive Council meeting, the President approved investment in close to 4,000 towers in rural areas. About 20 million Nigerians, mostly in the north, north-central, and northwest, are currently unconnected,” Tijani told Channels TV.

In the video clip seen on Monday, he explained the social and developmental rationale for the project. “Commercial companies may avoid these areas because there are few people and limited profit opportunities. The government is investing in these towers to ensure that no Nigerian is left behind,” he said.

The tower deployment is part of a broader national strategy to strengthen Nigeria’s digital infrastructure. This includes the 90,000-kilometre Project Bridge fibre-optic backbone, which will connect every geopolitical zone, state, and local government area, and the expansion of NIGCOMSAT, with the replacement of its existing satellite and the launch of two new satellites to improve coverage and resilience.

Officials say the towers will enable rural populations to access mobile services, the internet, and e-government platforms for the first time, bridging a critical gap in Nigeria’s digital economy. The project is expected to support development, education, financial inclusion, and economic growth in previously underserved communities.