The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Tijani Bosun, has announced that Nigeria needs approximately $2 million to lay 135,000 kilometers of fibre optics across the country by 2027.
In addition to this infrastructure goal, the Minister is also aiming to create 3 million digital jobs and achieve 95% digital literacy within the same timeframe, positioning Nigeria among the top 25 digital economies globally.
Dr. Bosun shared these plans during an interactive session with journalists in Abuja over the weekend. Represented by his Strategic Communications Adviser, Mr. Osibo Imhoitsike, the Minister emphasized his commitment to attracting multinational investors to Nigeria. He believes that increased investment will significantly boost the digital sector.
“It is our ambition to attract the necessary funding to support all our initiatives and innovations from major investors over the next four years. We believe that innovation is key to solving our challenges, which is why we are fostering an environment conducive to investment,” Bosun stated.
The Minister’s strategic blueprint focuses on five key pillars: Knowledge, Policy, Infrastructure, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Capital and Trade. The plan to create 3 million digital jobs is part of the Knowledge pillar, aiming to enhance digital literacy to 95% over the next four years.
On the policy front, Dr. Bosun announced that a new Digital Economy Bill will be introduced soon. This legislation will guide and regulate all stakeholders in the digital sector. Furthermore, ongoing efforts are underway to connect the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) across Nigeria using NigComSat infrastructure. Upon completion, citizens will be able to access services such as birth registration and National Identity Number enrolment locally, without the need to travel to state capitals.
Regarding trade, the Minister set an ambitious target of achieving 99% trade coverage across Africa and globally by 2027, leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to accomplish this goal.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Engr. Faruk Yabo, underscored the importance of the media as strategic partners in promoting President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“We view the media as vital partners in implementing the Renewed Hope Agenda. The role of government is to provide services, and it’s essential that these efforts are communicated effectively through the MDAs. We believe it is important to educate you about the ministry’s activities so that you have a clear understanding of what you are reporting,” Yabo said.
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