The Federal Government (FG) today approved a major connectivity project to expand basic mobile access to 21 million people across Nigeria.
Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Information and Digital Economy, who announced this says that the connectivity project is part of two major initiatives aimed at expanding mobile connectivity to 21 million people and advancing Artificial Intelligence (AI) development in Nigeria.
The approvals were granted during Tuesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“In another update study carried out 2019, the number of people living in the unserved and underserved areas was estimated to have dropped to 31.16 million and number of clusters reviewed down to 114. Based on the outcome of the new study in 2022, the number of clusters has further dropped from 114 to 97 clusters with an estimated population of 27.91 million,” the USPF states on its website.
Minister: Connectivity project to extend mobile access to 21 million people across 4,834 communities in Nigeria
The Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), established by the Federal Government of Nigeria to facilitate the achievement of national policy goals for universal access and universal service to information and communication technologies (ICTs) in rural, un-served and under-served areas in Nigeria, estimates that there are 27.91 million people without access to basic mobile services.
“The first study to identify clusters of voice telephony and transport network gap in the country was carried out by the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) in 2013 with an estimated population of about 36.8 million people and 207 clusters. In another update study carried out 2019, the number of people living in the unserved and underserved areas was estimated to have dropped to 31.16 million and number of clusters reviewed down to 114. Based on the outcome of the new study in 2022, the number of clusters has further dropped from 114 to 97 clusters with an estimated population of 27.91 million,” the USPF states on its website.
Meanwhile, Dr. Tijani says that the Nigeria Universal Communication Access Project, approved today by FEC will provide mobile access to connect “over 21 million people across 4,834 communities in Nigeria today that lack the most basic mobile communications access, particularly in remote rural areas.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Tijani says that the Nigeria Universal Communication Access Project, approved today by FEC will provide mobile access to connect “over 21 million people across 4,834 communities in Nigeria today that lack the most basic mobile communications access, particularly in remote rural areas.”
The initiative, the Minister says, to be implemented under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, is part of the government’s broader Infrastructure Blueprint and complements Project Bridge, a 90,000km fibre expansion initiative
Early last year, the FEC approved the establishment of a special purpose vehicle to oversee the deployment of Project Bridge, which aims to extend fibre optic infrastructure across the country.
As part of this effort, FG will provide half of the $2 billion required for the project, according to the Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy. “Half of that money is what the government will make available,” he says.
“Access to connectivity is a service that many of us take for granted, so delivering additional base stations to cater to unserved and underserved areas will ultimately contribute to improving quality of life for more of our fellow citizens.,” Dr. Bosun says.
He states that the second approval is for the establishment of the National Artificial Intelligence Trust, the first of its kind globally. The Trust will promote local languages in AI development and ensure ethical, safe, and sustainable growth.
According to Tijani, during an interview with Arise T.V, as Nigeria develops large language models and digitizes data, monetising these efforts will generate funds to support further AI advancements through the Trust.
The Trust will be led by 10 AI experts, along with the Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy and the Minister of Science, Innovation & Technology.
“Its mandate will be to mobilise resources, provide oversight and guide the development of AI in Nigeria. The Trust will also help future proof our investment in AI across key sectors of the economy, in recognition of the transformative power of the technology in driving job creation and attracting foreign direct investment”, Dr Tijani says.
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