Author: Gist Correspondent

President Bola Tinubu has approved the procurement of two new communication satellites as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s digital infrastructure and accelerate the administration’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy.

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

Tijani said the approval represents a major shift in Nigeria’s digital strategy, noting that the country is currently the only one in West Africa without active communication satellites.

According to him, the new satellites will significantly enhance connectivity, particularly in underserved and hard-to-reach areas, while supporting national economic growth.

“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,” Tijani said.

“One of the most significant developments is that the President has now approved the procurement of two new communication satellites. Nigeria today is the only country in West Africa without communication satellites, and this approval gives us the capacity to use satellite technology to connect our people,” he added.

The minister also gave an update on the Federal Government’s flagship 90,000-kilometre fibre-optic backbone project, aimed at expanding broadband access nationwide. He said about 60 per cent of the project has been completed, with funding already secured for the remaining phase.

“The 90,000 kilometres fibre-optic project is not a dream. About 60 per cent of the work has been completed and funding for the rest is secure,” Tijani said.

He stressed that while expanding connectivity is critical, it must be matched with strong data protection measures, describing privacy as the foundation of trust, safety and sustainability in the digital space.

Tijani said the success of Nigeria’s digital economy would depend not only on infrastructure and skills, but also on public trust, adding that the NDPC remains central to building that confidence.

He noted that President Tinubu demonstrated early commitment to data protection by signing the Nigerian Data Protection Commission Act into law shortly after assuming office.

Speaking at the event, the National Commissioner of the NDPC, Mr Vincent Olatunji, said Nigeria’s data protection ecosystem has grown into a N16.2 billion industry, generating thousands of jobs and boosting investor confidence.

Olatunji attributed the growth to stricter regulation following the enactment of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, adding that the sector has generated over N5.2 billion in compliance revenue and created more than 23,000 jobs nationwide.

He disclosed that 38,677 Data Controllers and Data Processors of Major Importance have been registered, alongside 307 licensed Data Protection Compliance Organisations.

According to him, the commission has received 8,155 compliance audit returns and concluded 246 data breach investigations, resulting in 11 enforcement actions, including fines and remediation directives.

Olatunji said the NDPC has issued a General Application and Implementation Directive to clarify enforcement procedures, while the Data Protection Act has been translated into three major Nigerian languages to enhance public awareness.

He added that Nigeria’s strengthened data protection framework has improved its attractiveness to foreign investors, noting that independent data protection authorities are now essential for cross-border business engagements.

The NDPC boss also said Nigeria has gained international recognition, including winning the Picasso Award for Best Data Protection Authority in Africa and securing membership of global and continental privacy bodies.

On capacity building, Olatunji said the commission has organised 168 training programmes with over 104,000 beneficiaries, certified 494 professionals, and launched youth-focused digital privacy initiatives.

He said the achievements form part of activities for the 2026 National Privacy Week, scheduled for January 28 to February 4, with the theme, “Privacy in the Age of Emerging Technologies: Trust, Ethics and Innovation.”

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Communications Commission has announced plans to leverage satellite technology to extend mobile coverage to an estimated 23.3 million Nigerians currently underserved by terrestrial networks.

The commission said satellite-to-phone technology, which allows standard smartphones to connect directly to satellites without relying on cell towers, could help bridge connectivity gaps identified in its 2024 cluster gap study, which highlighted 87 underserved clusters nationwide.