Published October 15, 2024.
By Chinwendu Eugene
The Federal Government has announced plans to invest 2 billion dollars to deploy a 90,000-kilometre fibre optic project in the country.
The project is designed to expand Nigeria’s fibre optic cable capacity from 35,000km to 125,000km, to boost the terrestrial fibre optic backbone in.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, stated this on Monday in Kano on the sidelines of a facility tour of the vandalised Digital Innovation Park.
It will be recalled that irate youths vandalised the model park during the nationwide protest in August.
Tijani said the investment would provide meaningful connectivity to communities ensuring that schools, hospitals, government establishments and businesses thrive in a digitally connected environment.
According to him, it will also accelerate growth across critical sectors of the economy including education, health, and agriculture.
“To support this vision, the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy is committed to deepening Nigeria’s digital backbone.
“Through the National Broadband Alliance and in collaboration with Kano State Government, we are simplifying the process for private infrastructure companies to invest in Kano’s digital economy.
“This partnership will facilitate further investment in connectivity, ensuring that key institutions like schools, hospitals and public offices are connected, enabling Kano to become a true digital hub,” he said.
The minister noted that today’s world, technology is the key to unlocking productivity and driving the diversification of Nigeria’s economy.
He said that many countries faced declining populations, stressing that Africa and Nigeria in particular has the advantage of growing a dynamic workforce.
“This is our moment to become a net exporter of technology talent, while also strengthening our own local industries,” he said.
