The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has given the green light for the deployment of 4,000 telecom towers across Nigeria, a move aimed at bridging the digital divide in communities that currently lack reliable connectivity.
Briefing State House Correspondents after Wednesday’s FEC meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris, explained that the approval followed a joint memorandum submitted by relevant ministries.
The minister said the towers would be deployed to areas identified as underserved, where millions of Nigerians struggle to access digital services, limiting both communication and economic participation.
“There is also an approval by the FEC granted to the Ministry of Digital Communications and the Ministry of Finance to establish service centers for agricultural mechanization and the digital economy, alongside the deployment of towers to places that are currently underserved,” Idris said.
According to the presentation by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, around 23 million Nigerians live in communities with insufficient digital infrastructure. Idris emphasized that improving connectivity would not only enhance access to information but also strengthen national security and stimulate economic activities in rural areas.
“Indeed, this will also help in fighting insecurity and enhancing commerce and economic activity amongst the people of Nigeria,” he added.
In addition to the telecom initiative, the council approved the establishment of service centers for agricultural mechanization in all six geopolitical zones, aimed at supporting year-round farming and boosting productivity.
Idris noted that these decisions are in line with the medium-term expenditure framework presented earlier by the ministers of finance and budget, stressing that the FEC also issued directives to intensify project prioritization across government agencies.
The approvals mark a significant step in Nigeria’s efforts to expand digital inclusion, enhance agricultural productivity, and improve economic participation in rural and underserved communities.