Abuja — President Bola Tinubu has approved the procurement of two new communication satellites as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s digital infrastructure and support his administration’s ambition to grow the economy to $1 trillion.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during a press conference to mark Global Privacy Day 2026, organised by the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC).
Tijani described the approval as a major shift in Nigeria’s digital strategy, noting that Nigeria is currently the only country in West Africa without active communication satellites, a gap the new assets are expected to close.
“Mr President has been very clear about his ambition to build a $1tn economy, and digital technology is central to achieving that vision,” Tijani said.
“Nigeria today is the only country in West Africa with non-communication satellites, and we have now been given the approval to procure two new communication satellites to enhance connectivity.”
Fibre Optic Backbone Progress
The minister also revealed significant progress on the Federal Government’s flagship 90,000-kilometre fibre optic backbone project, aimed at expanding broadband access nationwide.
According to him, about 60 per cent of the project has been completed, with funding secured for the remaining phases.
“The 90,000 kilometres fibre optic project is not a dream. Sixty per cent has already been completed, and funding for the rest is secure,” he said.
Privacy and Trust in Digital Expansion
Tijani stressed that expanding connectivity without adequate data protection would be counterproductive, emphasising that privacy and trust are essential for a sustainable digital economy.
“As we bring more Nigerians online, connectivity without protection is incomplete. Privacy is the foundation of trust, safety and sustainability in the digital world,” he said.
He added that the NDPC remains central to building trust in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem and recalled that President Tinubu demonstrated early commitment to data protection by signing the Nigeria Data Protection Commission Act into law shortly after assuming office.
Nigeria’s Data Protection Sector Growth
Speaking at the event, the National Commissioner of the NDPC, Vincent Olatunji, disclosed that Nigeria’s data protection sector has grown into a ₦16.2bn industry, generating thousands of jobs and boosting investor confidence.
He attributed the growth to stricter regulation following the enactment of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.
Olatunji said the sector has so far generated over ₦5.2bn in compliance revenue and created more than 23,000 jobs nationwide.
He added that 38,677 Data Controllers and Data Processors of Major Importance are now registered under the law, alongside 307 licensed Data Protection Compliance Organisations.
Enforcement, Training and Global Recognition
According to Olatunji, the commission has received 8,155 compliance audit returns, concluded 246 data breach investigations, and carried out 11 enforcement actions, including fines and remediation orders.
He said the NDPC recently issued the General Application and Implementation Directive, while the Data Protection Act has been translated into three major Nigerian languages to improve public awareness.
Olatunji noted that Nigeria’s strengthened data protection framework has improved the country’s attractiveness to foreign investors and earned international recognition, including the Picasso Award for Best Data Protection Authority in Africa.
Satellite Technology to Bridge Connectivity Gaps
The development aligns with earlier plans by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to leverage satellite technology to connect an estimated 23.3 million Nigerians currently underserved by terrestrial networks.
Satellite-to-phone technology allows mobile devices to connect directly to satellites without relying on traditional cell towers, offering solutions for remote and hard-to-reach areas.
The NCC said advances in satellite and non-terrestrial network technologies now make it possible to bridge persistent connectivity gaps identified in its 2024 cluster gap study.
