The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, disclosed this on Friday during the commissioning of a NUCAP telecommunications tower along Umuahia–Ohafia Road in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State.
Tijani said the project would extend mobile and broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved communities, with the newly commissioned facility marking the beginning of a nationwide rollout.
He said the initiative aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to connect every unconnected community in Nigeria to the digital economy.
According to the minister, the lack of reliable telecommunications services has continued to restrict economic activities, access to essential services and communication in rural communities.
He said improved connectivity would enable farmers to contact buyers, traders to conduct electronic transactions without network interruptions and families to seek emergency assistance without struggling to find a signal.
Describing the telecommunications tower as an investment in future opportunities, Tijani said the benefits would extend beyond telephone calls to include access to digital skills, education, markets and social connections.
He added that the Federal Government would continue working with the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, network operators and community leaders to extend coverage to other unconnected areas in Bende.
Speaking at the commissioning, Kalu said reliable telecommunications connectivity was essential to financial inclusion, education, healthcare delivery and economic development, particularly in rural communities.
The lawmaker, who represents Bende Federal Constituency, said dependable network services could determine whether rural residents accessed economic opportunities or remained excluded from the digital economy.
He noted that mobile banking applications, electronic transfers and agent banking services depended on reliable telecommunications infrastructure, adding that improved connectivity would bring financial services closer to people living far from conventional bank branches.
“For a rural trader whose payment repeatedly fails, a student who cannot join an online lesson, or a family struggling to contact a doctor, it is anything but ordinary. It can determine whether an opportunity is secured or lost,” he said.
Kalu added that the infrastructure would help students access online learning materials, participate in virtual lessons and apply for scholarships, while enabling teachers to improve their skills through digital resources.
He said healthcare workers in rural communities could also use the network to consult specialists, exchange medical information securely and coordinate referrals, improving access to medical expertise beyond their immediate locations.
The Deputy Speaker further highlighted the importance of reliable telecommunications for civic participation and emergency response, noting that connectivity would enable citizens to obtain accurate information, engage their representatives and communicate during emergencies.
He disclosed that 16 additional locations requiring connectivity interventions had been identified in Bende Federal Constituency.
Kalu urged the ministry and its partners to work with his office and community leaders to verify the locations, assess existing coverage gaps and develop a clear implementation plan.
He stressed that the success of the initiative would depend not only on installing telecommunications towers but also on reliable power supply, regular maintenance and prompt repairs when faults occurred.
The Deputy Speaker commended Tinubu and the ministry for selecting Bende to launch the programme, while acknowledging the contributions of implementing agencies, network providers, engineers and other partners.
He also appreciated Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, for supporting federal development initiatives in the state and pledged continued cooperation to accelerate infrastructure development.
Kalu called on traditional rulers and presidents-general of town unions to protect the telecommunications infrastructure, describing it as a critical national asset that would benefit communities for years to come.
The commissioning featured a live demonstration of e-learning at Bende Grammar School using the newly deployed infrastructure, alongside the distribution of mobile phones to constituents.
The Federal Government said further deployments would follow across the country in the coming days, weeks and months as it intensifies efforts to bridge Nigeria’s digital divide.