Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy Bosun Tijani
On Monday, the Federal Government approved a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to fund the deployment of an extra 90,000km of fiber optic cable for universal internet access throughout Nigeria, according to Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy Bosun Tijani.
According to the Minister, the project would enable Nigeria to have the third-longest terrestrial fiber optic backbone in Africa, after South Africa and Egypt, with a capacity increase from 35,000 km to 125,000 km.
He stated that the government has begun raising the $2 billion required to complete the project, and that the deployment will begin within the next eight to twelve months.
The minister gave a speech at the current EdTech Conference, which is being hosted by the Federal Government and the Mastercard Foundation’s Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning.
The focus of the first EdTech Conference, which lasted two days, was “Education Technology for Resilient and Inclusive Learning in Africa.” Once implemented, according to Tijani, the project will improve internet connectivity in hospitals, schools, and other important organizations.
He said: “Nigeria needs 125, 000km of fibre optic cable. Fortunately for us, the private sector has invested 35, 000km. Since the emergence of this administration, it has been very clear that President Bola Tinubu, with the support of the ministry, will aggressively deploy 90, 000km of fibre optic cable.
“About six or seven weeks ago, the Federal Executive Council actually approved the establishment of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) which is now working with seven to eight fibre development finance institutions. Our goal is that over the next two to three years, we should be able to deploy 90, 000km of fibre optic cable across the entire country which will imply that the quality of internet will go up significantly but also it will imply that regardless of where you find yourself in Nigeria you will be able to access the internet.
“A lot of our schools, hospitals and critical institutions will now be connected once we are able to deploy that fibre optic cable. That is what we are working on.
“We are hoping that deployment will start in the next eight to 12 months because the funding, which is a $2bn fund, is now being put together to achieve that.
“If we start to use technology in education, a lot of our people that are out of school will now have the opportunity to be enlightened whether they are within school or they go to community centres where they are; technology will give them the opportunity and we will now start creating more jobs.”