The Federal Government will co-invest with the private sector to deploy 7,000 telecommunications towers beginning next year in a major push to deepen network coverage and improve digital connectivity.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, made this disclosure on Thursday in Lagos during a stakeholder engagement session organised by the Universal Service Provision Fund.
A telecom tower is a structure that supports antennas and equipment for transmitting and receiving wireless signals, enabling mobile network coverage and internet connectivity.
Tijani, who is also spearheading the 90,000km fibre-optic project in collaboration with the World Bank, said the initiative aims to provide telecom access to an estimated 25 to 30 million Nigerians living in areas with little or no infrastructure.
Under the investment model, the government will hold a 49 per cent stake, while private sector investors will contribute the remaining 51 per cent, ensuring private sector efficiency in management.
Tijani emphasised that the towers will be managed by private companies, while the government plays a co-investment role to ensure that telecom services reach underserved areas.
