FG to Launch New Postcode System October 1, 3,700 telecommunications towers to improve network coverage
The Federal Government has announced that it will commence the rollout of its ambitious 90,000-kilometre fibre optic network within the next few weeks as part of efforts to expand broadband penetration and strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, disclosed this on Tuesday after briefing President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
According to the minister, the Federal Government has concluded the resource mobilisation and contractual processes required for the nationwide project, paving the way for physical deployment of the fibre optic infrastructure.
“We’re now at the point where, in a few weeks’ time, we should start to lay the fibre, so people will start seeing us around the country deploying the fibre. This is going to transform Nigeria for good,” Tijani said.
He explained that the project would span every state, geopolitical zone, local government area and ward across the country, significantly improving internet connectivity and digital access for millions of Nigerians.
“This is a project where every state, every geopolitical zone, every local government and every ward in this country will be covered with fibre optic cables, which will transform the quality of connectivity,” he added.
Tijani attributed the recent growth recorded in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector to reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration, including the designation of digital infrastructure as Critical National Infrastructure, the approval of telecom tariff adjustments and the harmonisation of taxes affecting the sector.
The minister also revealed that the Federal Government will begin deploying about 3,700 telecommunications towers from October to improve network coverage in underserved and unserved communities across the country.
According to him, the presidentially approved project is expected to provide reliable telecommunications services to more than 20 million Nigerians who currently lack adequate mobile network coverage.
“Before the end of the year, we’ll also start to deploy close to 3,700 towers. It’s taken a lot putting this project together and raising the capital for it, but we are now at a point where deployment should begin around October,” he said.
Tijani further announced that Nigeria would officially launch a new alphanumeric postcode system on October 1, describing it as a major milestone in the country’s digital transformation agenda.
He explained that the new postcode system would assign a unique address to every property nationwide, making it easier to improve logistics, boost e-commerce, strengthen emergency response services and enhance public service delivery.
“The alphanumeric postcode is unique because it allows us to have unique addresses for every property. That will change the game significantly for Nigeria in terms of the delivery of public services,” the minister stated.
The Federal Government said the combined implementation of the nationwide fibre optic network, the telecommunications tower deployment and the new postcode system would significantly enhance digital connectivity, promote economic growth and position Nigeria as a leading digital economy in Africa.