…FG to invest ₦6bn in fibre optic expansion
By Gloria Ikibah
The Minister of Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has attributed the recent 50 percent increase in telecommunication tariffs to inflation and rising operational costs.
The Minister disclosed this during the 2025 budget defense session held by the joint House of Representatives and Senate Committees on Communication, on Tuesday in Abuja.
Explaining the rationale behind the tariff hike, Dr. Tijani stated that the move aligns with broader economic trends where increased tariffs lead to higher consumer prices due to added costs on imported goods.
The Minister also revealed plans by the Federal Government to invest ₦6 billion in the deployment of 90,000 kilometers of fiber optic cables, increasing Nigeria’s current coverage from 35,000 kilometers to 125,000 kilometers, and he described this initiative as a critical step towards boosting communication infrastructure and fostering growth in key sectors of the economy.
“Tariffs act as a sales tax, causing a one-off price increase rather than sustained inflation.
“Outside of South Africa and maybe Egypt or Tunisia, many African countries face a significant deficit in fiber optic cable coverage.
“This is going to become a big business. We want Nigerian companies not only to lay cables within Nigeria but also to provide these services for neighboring countries. And we want our people to be the workforce driving this transformation,” he said.
Dr. Tijani who emphasised the importance of communication infrastructure in ensuring security and economic development, highlighted the historical reliance on private investment for telecommunications infrastructure, which has often prioritized profitable urban areas over rural communities.
“Private companies only invest where they see potential returns.
“They use tools like night-time satellite data to identify economic activity, represented by lights, and focus their investments in those areas. This has left many underserved regions without proper infrastructure. Addressing this disparity is a priority for us,” he explained.
The Minister, however, lamented the inadequate funding of the Ministry, which he said hampers its ability to fulfill its mandate effectively.
“The Ministry is underfunded compared to agencies like the NCC. We lack the necessary resources and software to track revenue-generating activities efficiently. With better funding, the Ministry could generate significantly more revenue and enhance its impact,” he said.
In his remarks, Senator Shuaib Salisu, Co-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Communication, acknowledged the critical contributions of the communication sector to Nigeria’s economic growth. He called for a review of the Ministry’s 2025 proposed budget to ensure it is adequately equipped to deliver on its mandate.
Following discussions, the Committee adopted a motion urging the Committees on Appropriation to consider an upward revision of the Ministry’s budget for 2025.