ABUJA, May 29 (MENA) - Nigeria's Federal Government has said it plans to invest in 7,000 towers to expand network coverage to underserved communities with a focus on bridging the digital divide and promoting inclusive development in the country.

This was announced by Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy Bosun Tijani in Abuja as he unveiled a pilot project in Ibwa 2 community, situated in Gwagwalada, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Tijani hinted that Nigerian President Bola Tinubu had directed that the ministry should invest in 7,000 towers to give Nigerians access to network, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported.

He noted that there were about 20 million rural dwellers who did not have access to benefit from such facilities.

“Nigeria has decided to invest 7,000 of these pieces of equipment in healthcare,” Tijani said.

“There are about 20 million people who cannot benefit from what we that live in the city or those who are nearer to the city are currently enjoying,” he added.

“Out of those 20 million people, over 80 percent of them are from the northern part of Nigeria,” the minister noted.

“This is why Mr President has demanded that we must put money into ensuring that this opportunity is not only available to those in the urban area, but every part of the north must be covered with this equipment,” he pointed out.

“So that we can give this opportunity to our people regardless of where they find themselves,” the minister said.

He added that the project, in collaboration with Globacom Nigeria and Huawei Technologies Nigeria, would provide different digital services to over 12,000 residents of the community and those within its environs. (MENA)

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