Nigeria to Buy Two New Communication Satellites to Drive Digital Growth

By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigeria will purchase to new communication satellites to boost Nigeria’s digital infrastructure as part of efforts to achieve President Bola Tinubu’s plan to grow the economy to $1 trillion.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Mr Bosun Tijani, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja at a press conference to mark Global Privacy Day 2026, organised by the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NPDC).

Mr Tijani said the approval marked a significant shift in Nigeria’s digital strategy, noting that the country currently stands out in West Africa for lacking active communication satellites, a gap the new assets are expected to address.

“As you know, Mr President has been very clear about his ambition to build a $1 trillion economy, and digital technology is central to achieving that vision,” adding that, “The President has now approved that we should procure two new satellites. Nigeria today is the only country in West Africa with non-communication satellites. And we have been given the go-ahead to procure two new ones, ensuring that we can use that satellite to connect.”

He also said progress had been made on the Federal Government’s flagship 90,000-kilometre fibre optic backbone project, which is aimed at expanding broadband access across the country. According to the minister, about 60 per cent of the fibre project has been completed, while funding for the remaining work has already been secured.

“The 90,000 kilometres fibre optic project is not a dream. About 60 per cent of the work has already been completed, and the funding for the project is secure. As we bring more Nigerians online, connectivity without protection is incomplete. Privacy is the foundation of trust, safety, and sustainability in the digital world.”

“The success of Nigeria’s digital economy will depend not just on infrastructure and talent, but on trust, and the NDPC remains central to building that trust,” the minister said.

Mr Tijani said the Tinubu administration was positioning digital technology as a key driver of inclusive growth, improved public service delivery, and long-term economic expansion, adding that investments were also being channelled into digital skills, rural connectivity, and institutional reforms.

He stressed that the expansion of connectivity must be matched with stronger data protection, especially as Nigeria’s young and digitally active population continues to grow.

Recall that Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) recently granted licenses to three global internet service providers – Amazon’s Project Kuiper, BeetleSat-1, and and Germany-based Satelio IoT Services – as part of efforts to strengthen internet connectivity via satellite and to boost competition among existing internet service providers in the country.