The Federal Government has commenced the deployment of 3,700 telecommunications towers nationwide to provide mobile network and internet access to nearly 20 million Nigerians living in unserved and underserved communities.

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, announced the rollout on Friday, October 16, 2026, during the commissioning of the first tower under the Nigeria Universal Communication Access Project (NUCAP) in Amaeke, Bende Local Government Area of Abia State.

The project is designed to extend reliable telecommunications services to communities that have remained disconnected from the country’s expanding digital economy, particularly rural, riverine and other hard-to-reach areas.

Tijani said the commissioning of the Bende facility marked the beginning of a nationwide rollout, with additional sites expected to follow in the coming days, weeks and months.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given us a clear mandate: work towards bringing every Nigerian online. Through NUCAP, we are delivering 3,700 telecommunications towers across Nigeria,” the minister said.

He explained that the absence of reliable network coverage continued to prevent many residents from accessing essential services and economic opportunities.

According to him, farmers in disconnected communities often struggle to contact potential buyers, traders face difficulties receiving electronic payments, and families may be unable to reach health workers or seek emergency assistance when necessary.

The minister said expanding telecommunications infrastructure would help bridge the digital divide and improve access to online education, digital banking, healthcare services, business opportunities and government platforms.

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The initiative is also expected to benefit small businesses and residents in locations where commercial telecommunications operators have been reluctant to invest because of difficult terrain, low population density or limited expected returns.

The commissioning of the first NUCAP tower in Bende marks a major implementation milestone for the programme, which the government says will bring nearly 20 million Nigerians into reliable telecommunications coverage.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, who attended the commissioning, said dependable network access was essential for financial inclusion, education, healthcare delivery and economic development in rural communities.

Kalu disclosed that 16 additional locations in Bende Federal Constituency had been identified as requiring telecommunications intervention. He called on the ministry and its implementing partners to work with community leaders to validate the locations and extend coverage to the affected areas.

He also urged residents and traditional institutions to protect the newly installed infrastructure against vandalism, stressing that its long-term benefits would depend on proper maintenance and reliable service delivery.

The commissioning featured a demonstration of live e-learning at Bende Grammar School using the new infrastructure, alongside the distribution of mobile phones to constituents.

Tijani assured residents that the government would continue working with network operators, lawmakers and community leaders to extend connectivity to other unserved locations.

The NUCAP initiative forms part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to improve digital inclusion in Nigeria and ensure that geographical location does not prevent citizens from accessing telecommunications services.

The government has previously identified millions of Nigerians living in communities without basic mobile network coverage, with rural and remote settlements accounting for a significant share of the connectivity gap.

For affected residents, the absence of a reliable signal can restrict access to mobile money services, online learning, digital markets, emergency communications and other services increasingly dependent on internet connectivity.

The government expects the 3,700 towers to improve coverage in these areas, although the actual benefits will depend on the pace of deployment, network reliability, power supply and ongoing maintenance.

Tijani has also urged communities without reliable coverage to report their locations to the ministry for consideration under the programme.

The tower rollout complements other federal digital infrastructure initiatives, including plans to deploy a 90,000-kilometre fibre-optic network to strengthen broadband connectivity across states, local government areas and wards.

Together, the projects are intended to expand access to digital services and support economic activity in communities that have historically been left behind by telecommunications development.

The government’s immediate challenge will be to ensure that the planned infrastructure reaches the intended communities and delivers affordable, reliable services beyond the initial commissioning ceremonies.