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The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved the deployment of 4,000 telecommunications towers to underserved communities across Nigeria, a move it says will boost national security and clos the rural connectivity gap.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this to State House correspondents after the council’s meeting at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
Announcing the decision, Idris said, “The Federal Executive Council has taken a decision that 4,000 of such towers be established or erected in these very underserved communities across this country.
“Indeed, this will also help in fighting insecurity and enhancing commerce and economic activity amongst the people of those communities.”
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He explained further, saying, “Under that programme, about 4,000 towers will be erected in underserved communities.
“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 any form of communication due to the absence of some of these towers.
“The rollout is expected to significantly improve rural connectivity, stimulate commerce and enhance security surveillance in areas currently lacking network coverage.”
Basic voice and data coverage still fades out across large swathes of rural areas in Nigeria, leaving millions without reliable access to emergency services or digital payments.
Security agencies also depend on working base stations for 112/761 emergency calls, cell-site triangulation, and real-time coordination in hard-to-reach areas.
Poor coverage, exacerbated by vandalism, high diesel costs, and multiple right-of-way/permit levies, has long hindered both policing and local commerce.
On Wednesday, November 27, President Bola Tinubu declared a nationwide security emergency in the wake of a spate of abductions, announcing measures including the recruitment of 20,000 additional police officers, the deployment of forest guards, and tighter protection of schools, churches and mosques in vulnerable areas.
Telecom operators have since pushed for harmonised right-of-way fees, protecting sites from vandalism, powering them with hybrid solar systems, and co-locating towers to cut costs.
At Wednesday’s briefing, Idris also detailed the council’s approval of new agricultural mechanisation service centres across all six geopolitical zones.
These centres, he said, will “support and boost agricultural mechanisation that will in turn also improve all year-round farming across communities in Nigeria.”
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