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FG to Deploy 80 Percent of 7000 Telecom Towers to North

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Federal government has unveiled an ambitious plan to deploy 7,000 telecommunications towers across the country, with 80 per cent allocated to Northern Nigeria to address the region’s acute connectivity deficit.

FG to Deploy 80 Percent of 7000 Telecom Towers to North

The federal executive council had already approved the 7,000 towers project by March 2025 to support digital transformation and 5G rollout, with formal rollout scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025.

The project’s first tower will be installed next week in a rural Abuja community of 5,000, where insecurity compounds connectivity challenges.

Unlike conventional masts, these towers will double as digital hubs, providing internet to schools, hospitals, and local government offices.

“Most of these clusters are in the North. That’s the reality. There are a few clusters in the South-West, you know, that are not connected, but the bulk of the clusters are in the North, Bosun Tijani, minister of Communications and Digital Economy, told TVC recently.

He continued, “So, almost 80% of these towers will be going towards filling that gap in the North. The rest will now patch up where we have left off.

“Unlike traditional telecom masts, they will deliver internet to local schools, hospitals, and government offices, maximising their impact. Wherever we put them, we use the same infrastructure to serve the community.”

Tijani highlighted a collaborative model where mobile network operators will connect to the towers’ cables, reducing redundancy and optimising resources.

Nigeria’s digital landscape remains uneven.

As of January 2025, 128.3 million Nigerians, 54.3 per cent of the population, lack internet access, ranking the country fourth globally for unconnected populations.

Broadband penetration stands at 48 per cent, with over 50 per cent of Nigerians living there, facing significant barriers, including unreliable electricity and low digital literacy.

Progress has been made, with the number of people in unserved and underserved areas falling from 36.8 million in 2013 to 23 million in early 2025, yet the connectivity gap remains a formidable challenge.

The 7,000-tower initiative, distinct from the separate Project 774, forms part of a broader strategy that includes satellite technology, such as Starlink, and fibre-optic cables, which Tijani described as the backbone of reliable connectivity in advanced markets.

The government’s focus on the North reflects the region’s disproportionate share of unconnected communities, while the project’s design aims to address both digital and security challenges.


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Ebere Melum-Nwogbo is a trained and practicing journalist. She is passionate about ICT and business journalism. She has over a decade experience spanning money and capital market as well as information technology

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MTN Nigeria Commits to Ethical Conduct with IFRS S1, S2 Compliance

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MTN Nigeria has raised the bar for corporate disclosure in Africa after publishing its 2025 sustainability report in full compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards S1 and S2.

MTN Nigeria Commits to Ethical Conduct with IFRS S1, S2 Compliance

Dr. Karl Toriola, CEO of MTN Nigeria,

The report, independently assured by Ernst & Young, marks the telecom operator’s seventh consecutive annual sustainability publication and third year as an early adopter of the global framework ahead of its mandatory implementation.

Dr. Karl Toriola, CEO of MTN Nigeria, said, “strong governance and ethical conduct are foundational to our sustainability strategy. We reinforced compliance through our Conduct Passport Framework and robust internal controls.”

He added that “in May 2025, we became the first telecommunications company in Nigeria to publicly present a sustainability report on the Nigerian Exchange Group platform, an important milestone in our commitment to IFRS S1 and S2- aligned disclosure and accountability.”

The company also secured Carbon Disclosure Project ratings of ‘B-’ for climate change and ‘C’ for water security.

Under the IFRS S2 framework, the telecoms operator disclosed climate-related risks linked to flooding, heat stress, regulatory changes and possible future taxes or charges on carbon emissions, following a climate scenario analysis completed in 2024.

The report also showed that MTN Nigeria now uses a digital reporting format – XBRL. This makes its sustainability and governance data easier for investors and ESG rating agencies to access and analyse through automated systems.

The Company also carried out assessments to understand how sustainability issues affect both its business operations and society at large, while measuring its overall economic, environmental and social impact from 2021 to 2024.

In addition, over one-third of MTN Nigeria’s biggest suppliers (based on spending) have committed to supporting the company’s net-zero emissions goals, although these commitments have not yet gone through an independent audit or verification process.

 


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Nigeria Moves to End Solar Imports as NASENI, REA Seal Major Renewable Energy Deal

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National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to promote locally manufactured renewable energy technologies under the Federal Government’s ‘Nigeria First Policy’.

Nigeria Moves to End Solar Imports as NASENI, REA Seal Major Renewable Energy Deal

L-R: EVC/CEO, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu; Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale Abraham Adedokun; and Dr. Abba Abubakar Aliyu, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), at the signing of the MoU on implementation of Nigeria First Policy for offtake of NSSENI’s renewable energy products for rural electrification projects held on Friday, June 19, 2026 at BPP’s office in Abuja.

The agreement signing was facilitated by the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale Abraham Adedokun at the BPP headquarters in Abuja on Friday, June 19, 2026.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, said the Agency is focused on linking research, production, and commercialization to ensure that innovations are translated into market-ready products.

He said “NASENI would scale up renewable energy production, including solar panels and streetlights, through initiatives such as DefFrontier, to strengthen local manufacturing and reduce import dependence, adding that the Agency will meet the renewable energy requirements of REA.”

Instead of continuous importation of technologies, machines and equipment for producing renewable energy solutions, NASENI by this MoU will be committed to local manufacturing and domestication of the technologies, equipment and other ways and means of proliferation of renewable resource in the country and to increase the nation’s off-grid energy solutions.

The Managing Director/CEO of REA, Dr. Abba Abubakar Aliyu, described the relationship with NASENI as a strategic partnership aimed at building Nigeria’s renewable energy ecosystem through local production and deployment.

He stated that “while NASENI provides the manufacturing and technological capacity for renewable equipment, REA will focus on deploying solutions to expand electricity across rural areas.”

Meanwhile, the Director-General of BPP, Dr. Adebowale Abraham Adedokun, said the Nigeria First Policy, exemplified by this agreement, is aimed at strengthening local content, ensuring value for money, and promoting accountability in public procurement.

He emphasized that implementation of the agreement will be performance-based, with strict monitoring to ensure compliance and measurable outcome. He added that the MoU is expected to deepen collaboration between NASENI and REA in expanding renewable energy and reducing dependence on imported technologies.

The MoU will be implemented through NASENI’s  subsidiary company, NASENI Devfrontier Green Energy FZE and REA limited liability company, RAMco.The two Federal Government agencies seek to establish a strategic collaboration under which REA shall offtake PV modules, inverters, energy storage batteries of NASENI-Devfrontier Green Energy FZE directly or through its approved distribution companies/assembly and manufacturing factory.

As part of the agreement, REA shall provide institutional visibility to enable NASENI participate in electrification projects; facilitate opportunities for engagements between NASENI and eligible developers/contractors under REA programs; ensure that such facilitation is consistent with applicable procurement, local content, and transparency requirements; and  also collaborate with NASENI in promoting standardized, high-quality PV technologies across its programme portfolio.


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TikTok, ICC Gather Nigeria’s Entrepreneurs to Drive Small Business Growth and Digital Transformation

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TikTok, in collaboration with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), on Thursday convened hundreds of entrepreneurs, small business owners, digital creators and industry stakeholders in Lagos for a flagship Digital Commerce Labs (DCL) event aimed at accelerating digital skills development and economic inclusion across Sub-Saharan Africa.

TikTok, ICC Gather Nigeria’s Entrepreneurs to Drive Small Business Growth and Digital Transformation

TikTok

The event, supported by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), brought together participants from across Nigeria’s business and technology ecosystem to explore how digital platforms can be leveraged to scale enterprises, improve market access and drive job creation.

Speaking at the event, organisers said the initiative marks the beginning of a broader programme designed to train thousands of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the region in digital commerce skills through both online and physical learning platforms.

According to TikTok, the partnership reflects its commitment to supporting small businesses and strengthening Africa’s growing digital economy.

“Digital commerce is reshaping how businesses grow across Sub-Saharan Africa, and Nigerian entrepreneurs are at the heart of that shift,” said Tokunbo Ibrahim, Acting Head of Government Relations and Public Policy, Sub-Saharan Africa, TikTok.

He said the initiative would ensure that small businesses benefit from emerging opportunities in social commerce and digital trade.

The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said digital platforms have evolved beyond entertainment and are now key drivers of economic growth and innovation.

He noted that Nigeria’s youth population and growing digital adoption position the country to benefit significantly from the expansion of online commerce and creator-led businesses.

“At NITDA, our vision is to make Nigeria a digitally enabled nation, fostering inclusive economic development through technological innovation,” he said.

The ICC Deputy Secretary General, Julian Kassum, described the programme as a strategic effort to equip small businesses with tools needed to compete in the global digital economy.

He said the Digital Commerce Labs initiative would help expand opportunities for trade, entrepreneurship and employment.

The Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) also announced support for the programme through capacity-building training in financial literacy, business structuring, record keeping, taxation and legal advisory services. It said participating businesses would gain access to funding opportunities after completing the programme.

Data presented at the event showed that Nigeria’s social commerce sector is projected to reach $2.04 billion in 2025 and nearly $4 billion by 2030, while Africa’s wider market is expected to grow to $9.43 billion within the same period.

Speakers at the event noted that social media platforms have become central to business growth in Nigeria, with many SMEs relying exclusively on digital channels to reach customers and drive sales.

The programme also featured keynote presentations, business training sessions, and a creator economy spotlight where Nigerian entrepreneurs shared experiences on building brands and scaling businesses through digital platforms such as TikTok.

Organisers said the initiative is expected to strengthen digital literacy, expand market access for SMEs, and deepen Nigeria’s participation in the global digital economy.


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