The Federal Government has set a target to deliver at least 1,000 telecom towers to rural communities in 2026 as part of efforts to expand network access in underserved parts of Nigeria. Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy Minister Bosun Tijani said the target forms part of a broader plan already approved by President Bola Tinubu.
Tijani said the President had approved 3,700 telecom towers overall, with the government aiming to complete no fewer than 1,000 within the year. He said the intervention is designed to close the connectivity gap affecting millions of Nigerians who still lack access to reliable telecommunications services.
According to the minister, more than 20 million Nigerians remain without any form of connectivity. He said the rural tower rollout is expected to improve access to communication services in communities that have remained outside effective network coverage.
The planned tower deployment comes alongside a wider federal broadband expansion drive under Project BRIDGE, a national infrastructure initiative aimed at rolling out at least 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable across the country. The project is intended to strengthen Nigeria’s digital backbone and extend broadband access on a larger scale.
Official information from the ministry shows that Project BRIDGE has secured $500 million from the World Bank Group and a further $100 million from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, with additional European Union grant support announced for the fibre rollout.
Recent government messaging has also linked the rural connectivity agenda to broader plans to deepen digital inclusion in schools, healthcare facilities and small businesses in underserved areas. Reports over the past few days have referred to a larger rural access programme covering about 4,000 communities nationwide.
While recent reports differ slightly on the total number of towers in the wider programme, with some citing 3,700 and others about 4,000, the government’s immediate 2026 target of 1,000 rural telecom towers has now been publicly stated.
