The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the construction of 7,000 new telecom towers in rural areas across Nigeria as part of efforts to enhance telecommunication coverage nationwide. This announcement was made by Bosun Tijjani, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Tijjani emphasized that achieving quality connectivity and widespread access to telecom services requires significant investment, which the government is working to encourage from the private sector. He defended the recent telecom tariff increase, explaining that it was necessary to prevent job losses and potential company closures in the sector. Without this adjustment, telecom operators would have faced financial strain, leading to dire consequences, including the shutdown of businesses and the loss of thousands of jobs.
The minister reassured Nigerians that the government remains committed to balancing consumer protection with business sustainability. He highlighted that nearly half a million Nigerians are employed in the telecommunications sector, making the stability of telecom companies crucial to the economy.
Airtel, led by Sunil Bharti Mittal, was also represented at the meeting. Mittal discussed Airtel’s ongoing investments in Nigeria and the impact of rising operational costs, inflation, and currency devaluation on telecom pricing. Despite these challenges, Airtel continues to invest heavily in Nigeria’s telecom infrastructure, having spent $200 million last year and planning to spend another $200 million by the end of the financial year.
Mittal also announced that Airtel plans to invest $250 million in its radio network and $140 million in a new data center. He stated that while the 50% tariff increase was necessary to cover rising costs, further adjustments might be needed in the future. He expressed confidence that as the Nigerian economy improves, the impact of inflation would be gradually managed.
In addition to improving telecom infrastructure, Airtel is also committed to supporting education and skills development in Nigeria. Mittal announced a scholarship program offering 10 Nigerian students full engineering degrees at top institutions in India, with the Nigerian government selecting the recipients. He emphasized Airtel’s long-term commitment to Nigeria, describing it as the cornerstone of its African operations.
Mittal also pledged Airtel’s continued involvement in the government’s 3Million Technical Talent program, aimed at boosting skills and education in Nigeria. He highlighted that the company aims to make meaningful contributions to Nigerian society, just as it has done in other regions, such as through the Satya Bharti School Programme in India, which has provided education to over 100,000 children.
These developments underline the Nigerian government’s ongoing efforts to improve telecom infrastructure, foster investment, and create sustainable growth in the sector.
