The Federal Government launched the National Broadband Alliance for Nigeria (NBAN) in Lagos on Tuesday, marking a major step towards enhancing broadband penetration and fostering socio-economic development across the country.
NBAN is a collaborative platform that brings together various stakeholders, including the government, businesses, and partners, to expand internet access, increase usage, and promote digital inclusion. Its primary aim is to position broadband as a central pillar for economic and social progress in Nigeria.
During the event, Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, highlighted the importance of broadband in transforming Nigeria’s digital economy, aligning with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Represented by the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Aminu Maida, the minister explained that “the NBAN initiative aims to bridge connectivity gaps, drive digital inclusion, and unlock economic opportunities through strategic partnerships across public and private sectors.”
He went on to state, “Nigeria has witnessed significant progress in broadband expansion, increasing penetration from 6% in 2015 to approximately 42% as of October 2024.”
Despite these gains, he acknowledged the persistent challenges, such as infrastructure gaps, underutilization of fiber networks, affordability concerns, and digital literacy barriers, which continue to hinder full broadband adoption.
To address these hurdles, the NBAN initiative focuses on aggregating demand across critical sectors such as education, healthcare, financial services, governance, and e-commerce to make broadband more accessible and affordable.
“Broadband is not just about connectivity; it is a driver of productivity, innovation, and economic diversification. Through the NBAN, we will harness the power of digital infrastructure to enhance education, healthcare, financial inclusion, and governance,” the minister emphasized.
In outlining the goals of NBAN, he noted that the initiative “aligns with Nigeria’s National Broadband Plan, 2020–2025, and the Ministry’s digital economy strategy, targeting 70 per cent broadband penetration by 2025.”
The targets also include achieving minimum speeds of 25 Mbps in urban areas and 10 Mbps in rural areas, expanding coverage to 80% of the population by 2027, and increasing broadband investments by 300–500%.
To meet these ambitious goals, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to deploy 90,000 km of fibre backbone across the country, ensuring that even the most underserved communities benefit from broadband services.
