- He said the administration was investing heavily in digital skills, rural connectivity and institutional reforms
- Tijani explained that digital technology remains central to the Tinubu administration’s economic vision
- According to the minister, the approval represents a major shift in Nigeria’s digital strategy
The Federal Government has approved the procurement of two new communication satellites as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s digital infrastructure and support President Bola Tinubu’s target of growing the economy to $1 trillion.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Mr. Bosun Tijani, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during a press briefing to mark Global Privacy Day 2026, organised by the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC).
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According to the minister, the approval represents a major shift in Nigeria’s digital strategy, noting that the country is currently the only nation in West Africa without active communication satellites.
He said the new satellites would help close this gap and improve nationwide connectivity.
Tijani explained that digital technology remains central to the Tinubu administration’s economic vision, stressing that satellite connectivity would play a critical role in expanding access, especially in underserved areas.
He also revealed significant progress on the Federal Government’s 90,000-kilometre fibre optic backbone project, saying about 60 per cent of the work had already been completed, with funding secured for the remaining phase.
The minister added that while expanding connectivity is essential, it must be matched with strong data protection, describing privacy as the foundation of trust, safety and sustainability in the digital space.
He said the administration was investing heavily in digital skills, rural connectivity and institutional reforms, while positioning the NDPC as a key pillar in building trust within Nigeria’s growing digital economy.
Tijani further noted that President Tinubu demonstrated early commitment to data protection by signing the Nigerian Data Protection Commission Act into law shortly after assuming office.
Meanwhile, the National Commissioner of the NDPC, Mr. Vincent Olatunji, disclosed that Nigeria’s data protection sector has grown into a ₦16.2 billion industry, generating thousands of jobs nationwide.
Olatunji attributed the growth to stricter regulation following the enactment of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, revealing that over ₦5.2 billion had been generated from compliance revenue, with more than 23,000 jobs created so far.
He added that thousands of data controllers and processors are now registered under the law, while several compliance audits, investigations and enforcement actions have been carried out to strengthen accountability.
The NDPC boss said Nigeria’s improving data protection framework has boosted investor confidence and earned the country international recognition, including awards and membership of global data protection bodies.
He said these milestones form part of activities lined up for the 2026 National Privacy Week, scheduled to hold from January 28 to February 4, themed “Privacy in the Age of Emerging Technologies: Trust, Ethics and Innovation.”
Olatunji assured that the commission would intensify enforcement of data protection laws in 2026, expand public awareness, and strengthen capacity building to align Nigeria’s data protection practices with global standards.
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