Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the deployment of 4,000 telecom towers nationwide to expand digital access in underserved communities.
Briefing journalists after the FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday in Abuja, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris, said that approval was granted to the Ministry of Digital Communications and the Ministry of Finance to establish service centres for agricultural mechanisation and digital economy on the deployment of towers to places that are currently underserved.
Idris explains that the initiative targets communities lacking basic digital connectivity and economic inclusion.
“The presentation of the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy indicates that about 23 million Nigerians are currently underserved, meaning that they are unable to do anything,” he said, adding that limited he said.digital access has hindered economic participation and basic communication in remote areas.
He said that the measure would also strengthen national security and boost commerce in rural communities.
“Indeed, this will also help in fighting insecurity and enhancing commerce and economic activity amongst the people of Nigeria,” he said.
Idris added that the Council further approved service centres for agricultural mechanisation across the six geopolitical zones of the country to boost year–round farming and that the decisions aligned with the medium-term expenditure framework earlier presented by the ministers of finance and budget.
GIK/APA
