‘To improve connectivity’ — FG, AfDB in talks to accelerate investment in fibre optic

Bosun Tijani, minister of communications, innovation, and digital economy, says he is in talks with the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group on bolstering connectivity in the country via broadband fibre optic fund.

According to a statement on Tuesday, the minister said he had the discussion when he hosted a team from the AfDB Group led by Solomon Quaynor, vice-president of private sector, infrastructure and industrialisation, in his office earlier this week.

“A key point of discussion was our plan to accelerate investment in our national backbone and broadband fibre optic fund as we increase connectivity to unserved and underserved areas in Nigeria,” he said.

Tijani said they also spoke on AfDB’s plan to establish a Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank, as well as discuss other areas of support to drive the growth of Nigeria’s digital economy.

Meanwhile, in a statement on February 12, Tijani expressed gratitude for the support of the World Bank in helping to co-organise an ecosystem discussion on broadband to talk about the crucial measures required to develop fibre access throughout Nigeria.

“The Nigerian ICT sector has been on an upward trajectory over the last 10 years and as we work to grow our digital economy, access to broadband is going to define the success of all our interventions,” he said. 

Tijani said he looked forward to engaging more partners and stakeholders in the National Broadband Alliance.