By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
Nigeria has commissioned the
first telecommunications tower under the Nigeria Universal Communication Access
Project (NUCAP), marking a step towards extending connectivity to about 20
million Nigerians currently without access to telecommunications services.
The tower was commissioned
in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State as part of a national initiative
designed to deploy 3,700 telecommunications towers across the country.
The project is spearheaded
by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy under
the leadership of Minister Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani.
The Managing Director and
Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited
(NIGCOMSAT), Jane Egerton-Idehen, joined Dr. Tijani and residents of Bende for
the launch.
According to NIGCOMSAT, the
initiative is aimed at bridging the digital divide by extending connectivity to
underserved communities and expanding access to economic and social
opportunities.
“Connectivity is more than
access to a network. It is access to opportunity, economic growth, essential
services, and a future where no Nigerian is left behind,” the satellite company
said.
It noted that improved
connectivity would give rural farmers greater opportunities to connect with
markets, enable small businesses to access digital payments and new customers,
and improve access to information, education, healthcare and other essential
services in underserved communities.
The company described NUCAP
as more than an infrastructure project, saying it represents an investment in
people, communities, businesses and Nigeria’s economic future.
“Every tower represents
another opportunity to bridge the digital divide and bring more Nigerians into
the digital economy,” NIGCOMSAT said.
The initiative comes as
Nigeria pursues President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ambition of building a $1
trillion economy, with the expansion of digital access expected to play a
critical role in ensuring that more citizens can contribute to national growth
and share in its prosperity.
NIGCOMSAT said universal
connectivity was essential to building a digitally inclusive, economically
competitive and resilient Nigeria.
“The goal is clear: to
ensure that geography does not determine who gets access to opportunity,” the
company said, describing the commissioning as another important step towards
achieving that objective.
