Nigeria: Federal Government Launches National Broadband Alliance to Drive Digital Transformation

The Federal Government has announced the launch of the National Broadband Alliance (NBAN), a strategic initiative aimed at accelerating Nigeria’s digital transformation and enhancing broadband development and adoption across the country.

Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, highlighted the critical role of improving connectivity infrastructure in fostering economic growth and national prosperity.

“Enhancing our connectivity infrastructure is central to our government’s plans as we work towards accelerating our collective prosperity as a nation,” the minister stated in a press release on Friday.

Currently, Nigeria’s broadband penetration stands at 43.53 percent, with substantial gaps in fibre network access. The new National Broadband Plan aims to achieve 70 percent internet penetration by 2025, addressing the digital divide and ensuring broader access to digital services.

The NBAN is designed to encourage collaboration among key stakeholders in the broadband ecosystem, including government agencies, private sector operators, and civil society organizations. The initiative seeks to align efforts to boost the quality and availability of broadband services nationwide.

Minister Tijani expressed confidence that by enhancing broadband quality and supply, the government would also stimulate demand, positioning Nigeria as a leader in the global digital economy.

“The NBAN will be instrumental in achieving this goal,” said Tijani. “As we improve the quality and supply of broadband, we are also creating avenues to increase demand.”

The launch of the NBAN marks a significant step towards realizing the government’s vision of a digitally empowered Nigeria and is expected to have a positive impact on the country’s economic development and competitiveness.

In addition to the NBAN, the government is advancing efforts to expand Nigeria’s fibre-optic network by 90,000 kilometres through the Fibre Forward Strategic Development project. This initiative, with an estimated cost of $2 billion, aims to increase Nigeria’s fibre capacity from 35,000 km to 125,000 km, making it the third-largest terrestrial fibre-optic infrastructure in Africa.

The expanded fibre network is expected to significantly enhance internet access across the country, further supporting the government’s broader digital transformation objectives.