The Federal Government of Nigeria officially launched the National Connectivity and Access Programme (NUCAP), an infrastructure initiative designed to deploy 3,700 telecommunications towers nationwide and extend mobile voice and broadband coverage to roughly 20 million citizens currently living without access to network services.
​The rollout commenced on Friday morning, October 16, 2026, in Bende, Abia State, where the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, commissioned the initiative’s flagship tower site.
​The deployment targets unserved and underserved rural communities across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones where private telecom operators have historically hesitated to invest due to high capital requirements and low immediate commercial returns.
​Speaking at the launch ceremony in Bende, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani emphasized the social and economic imperativeness of expanding digital infrastructure into remote areas:
​”NUCAP is here, another major step towards connecting every Nigerian. For the farmer unable to reach a buyer, the trader unable to receive a payment, or the family unable to call for help, connectivity opens up possibilities too long denied. No community should be left behind.”
​According to the Ministry, the NUCAP framework directly aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s strategic vision to expand digital inclusion as a catalyst for a $1 trillion national economy.
By extending infrastructure to remote farming communities and trade hubs, the project aims to facilitate mobile financial services, e-commerce, digital agriculture, and emergency response services nationwide.
​The deployment of the 3,700 sites will continue in phased batches over the coming months to systematically close the nation’s remaining connectivity gaps.
