President Tinubu approves purchase of two new satellites to boost digital infrastructure
The federal government has approved the acquisition of two new communication satellites to strengthen Nigeria’s digital infrastructure and support President Bola Tinubu’s $1trn economic growth plan. Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, disclosed this during Global Privacy Day 2026 in Abuja, noting that Nigeria currently lacks active communication satellites in West Africa.
Tijani highlighted progress on the 90,000-kilometre fibre optic backbone project, with 60% completed and funding for the remainder secured. He emphasized that connectivity must be paired with strong data protection to build trust in Nigeria’s digital economy.
National Commissioner of the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Vincent Olatunji, said the data protection sector has grown into a N16.2bn industry, creating over 23,000 jobs and attracting foreign investors. The NDPC plans to step up enforcement of the Nigeria Data Protection Act and expand public awareness and capacity-building programs nationwide.
The Nigerian Communications Commission also plans to leverage satellite-to-phone technology to extend mobile coverage to 23.3 million underserved Nigerians, bridging gaps in remote areas without relying on terrestrial networks.
