The federal government is set to introduce a landmark legislation aimed at safeguarding the telecommunications industry and accelerating the growth of Nigeria’s digital economy.
Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, disclosed this during an interview on Prime Time with Arise Television on Thursday night. He revealed that President Bola Tinubu plans to forward the Telecommunications and E-commerce Bill to the National Assembly by the end of February. Tijani expressed confidence that the bill would be enacted into law before the year’s end.
According to the minister, the proposed legislation is designed to create an enabling environment for the telecom sector, fostering investment and innovation while safeguarding its infrastructure and operations.
Tijani highlighted Nigeria’s telecommunications industry as the largest in Africa in terms of investments and workforce. He also noted that the sector, which is the third-largest contributor to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), holds the potential to drive Nigeria toward a trillion-naira digital economy.
“President Tinubu is committed to this vision and is keen on realizing the sector’s full potential to transform Nigeria’s economy,” Tijani said.
He further emphasized ongoing efforts to enhance connectivity across the country. The minister stated that the government’s plans to extend fibre optic cables nationwide were nearing fruition. Additionally, a fibre-to-home initiative is in the works, which will connect fibre-optic cables directly to residences.
Tijani explained that this project aims to improve the quality and affordability of telecom services, ensuring that Nigerians enjoy faster and more reliable connectivity at home.
The new bill, combined with these infrastructure projects, is expected to bolster Nigeria’s standing as a leading digital economy in Africa.
