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China eyes stake in Nigeria’s plan to connect 20 million unserved citizens
Nigeria’s ambitious drive to connect more than 20 million unserved citizens has attracted renewed interest from China Industrial Bank (CIB), signalling potential Chinese participation in one of the Federal Government’s largest telecoms infrastructure projects aimed at expanding broadband access across underserved communities.
The development emerged following a meeting between Dr Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, and a delegation from China Industrial Bank led by Peng Shuang, General Manager of Strategic Emerging Industries Business Headquarters.
The engagement comes as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to attract strategic investors into the Nigeria Universal Communication Access Project (NUCAP), a flagship broadband initiative designed to extend telecommunications services to communities currently lacking access to reliable connectivity, according to the minister.
China’s interest in NUCAP could strengthen investor confidence in the project and potentially position the Chinese financial institution among prospective partners being considered for participation in the project’s Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV).
“Nigeria’s connectivity challenge remains significant. Government estimates indicate that more than 20 million Nigerians still live in locations with little or no access to telecommunications services, limiting opportunities for education, healthcare, financial inclusion, digital services and economic participation. Earlier this year, Tijani disclosed that the Federal Government had secured approval for the deployment of 3,700 telecommunications towers across the country, with a target of delivering at least 1,000 tower sites within the year.”
Nigeria’s government seeks investors for connectivity rollout
The Federal Government has been actively courting private-sector participation in NUCAP as part of efforts to accelerate broadband expansion and bridge Nigeria’s digital divide.
In April, the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy invited investors to acquire a minority equity stake in the project’s SPV, highlighting the initiative’s strategic importance in extending digital infrastructure to underserved and unserved communities nationwide.
Nigeria’s connectivity challenge remains significant. Government estimates indicate that more than 20 million Nigerians still live in locations with little or no access to telecommunications services, limiting opportunities for education, healthcare, financial inclusion, digital services and economic participation.
Earlier this year, Tijani disclosed that the Federal Government had secured approval for the deployment of 3,700 telecommunications towers across the country, with a target of delivering at least 1,000 tower sites within the year.
The project is expected to focus on some of Nigeria’s most difficult-to-reach locations, including rural, remote and riverine communities that have remained outside the commercial coverage footprint of mobile network operators.
“NUCAP is a wholly greenfield network of modern telecommunications towers that will extend connectivity to these previously unconnected communities, many of them in rural and riverine areas of Nigeria,” Tijani said.
China bank backs 1,000-tower target
Expressing optimism about the project’s progress, the minister welcomed the bank’s commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s connectivity ambitions.
According to Tijani, discussions with China Industrial Bank reinforce confidence in achieving the target of deploying at least 1,000 telecommunications towers before the end of the year.
“I am encouraged by the Bank’s commitment to supporting our ambition of delivering a minimum of 1,000 tower sites by the end of this year to help bring connectivity, opportunity and economic inclusion closer to millions of Nigerians,” he said.
The support from China Industrial Bank comes at a critical stage in the project’s implementation as government seeks both funding and strategic expertise to accelerate deployment.
Nigeria’s NUCAP to deliver broadband, Wi-Fi and digital services
NUCAP is designed as a large-scale digital inclusion initiative that will deploy 3,700 telecommunications towers nationwide to provide broadband connectivity, public Wi-Fi services, digital learning platforms and supporting communications infrastructure in underserved communities.
The project is expected to play a significant role in advancing the Federal Government’s broader digital economy agenda by improving access to online education, digital financial services, e-government platforms and other technology-enabled opportunities.
To facilitate implementation, the initiative is being executed through a Special Purpose Vehicle established to own, manage and commercialise the network infrastructure.
The SPV will oversee project assets and coordinate with contractors, mobile network operators, regulators and other stakeholders involved in the construction, deployment and operation of the network.
Under the ownership structure approved by the government, the Federal Government, acting through the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), will hold a 90% equity stake in the SPV, while private-sector investors and strategic partners will collectively own the remaining 10% stake.
Government officials have indicated that prospective investors will be required to commit approximately $35 million to acquire the minority stake, reflecting efforts to attract private capital while ensuring public-sector control of the strategic infrastructure.
Closing Nigeria’s digital divide
The initiative aligns with the mandate of the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), which was established to promote universal access to information and communication technologies across rural, unserved and underserved areas of Nigeria.
As Nigeria pursues its target of achieving universal digital access, projects such as NUCAP are increasingly being viewed as critical infrastructure investments capable of extending connectivity beyond commercially viable urban centres and bringing millions of excluded Nigerians into the digital economy.
The growing interest from China Industrial Bank highlights the international investment attention being drawn to Nigeria’s broadband expansion agenda and underscores the scale of opportunities emerging in the country’s quest to bridge the connectivity gap affecting more than 20 million citizens.
BY NKECHI BAECHE-ESEZOBOR—The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has secured third place in the 2026 Public Service Reforms Performance Assessment conducted by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), ranking behind the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).
The assessment evaluated Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on key indicators, including FOI compliance, fiscal transparency, institutional reforms and website performance.
Receiving the award on behalf of the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Engr. Abraham Oshadami, described the recognition as a validation of the Commission’s commitment to institutional reforms and improved public service delivery.
Oshadami said the recognition would encourage the Commission to sustain initiatives that promote transparency, accountability and operational efficiency while strengthening public confidence in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.
He added that the award also reflects the NCC’s commitment to delivering better services to telecom consumers through improved service quality, responsiveness and stronger consumer protection measures across the industry.
Over the past two years, the Commission has implemented several reforms, including the launch of the National Coverage Map, publication of Quarterly Network Performance Reports, simplified tariff communication for subscribers, strengthened corporate governance compliance and expanded access to industry data.
Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Mr. Dasuki Arabi, commended the participating MDAs, particularly the top-performing agencies, for advancing transparency, accountability and good governance through sustained reform efforts.
Arabi noted that the annual assessment, held as part of activities marking the United Nations Public Service Day, recognises institutions that have demonstrated excellence in implementing reforms and delivering quality public services.
In addition to the institutional awards, the Bureau honoured 20 outstanding public servants across the federal, state and local government levels for exemplary leadership, including the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Mrs. Adejoke Adefulire.
The post NCC Clinches Third Place in Federal Public Service Reforms Assessment appeared first on Business Today NG.
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FEC approves tech-driven overhaul of NYSC to strengthen Nigeria’s digital workforce – Technology Times
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The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a comprehensive overhaul of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), introducing technology-focused reforms designed to digitise key operations, strengthen digital skills development and better align the 53-year-old national service scheme with Nigeria’s evolving digital economy.
Among the reforms approved by the council is a technology-driven call-up process that will digitise a key stage of the mobilisation exercise, alongside a redesigned six-week orientation programme with greater emphasis on digital skills, entrepreneurship, leadership development and specialised career pathways.
The reforms are intended to reposition the NYSC from a traditional national service programme into a technology-enabled, skills-driven institution that prepares graduates for employment and enterprise in an increasingly digital economy.
The reforms are intended to reposition the NYSC from a traditional national service programme into a technology-enabled, skills-driven institution that prepares graduates for employment and enterprise in an increasingly digital economy.
NYSC reform advances digital transformation, minister says
The reform process began in 2025 through a multi-stakeholder review involving the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Federal Ministry of Education and the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination before receiving final approval from FEC.
The approval comes as the Federal Government advances broader digital transformation initiatives aimed at expanding digital public infrastructure, improving workforce readiness and equipping young Nigerians with the skills required for a technology-driven economy.
Beyond the digital reforms, the approved package introduces risk-sensitive deployment of corps members, skills-based primary assignments aligned with graduates’ academic backgrounds and career aspirations, improved orientation camp standards through a national grading and certification system, civilian operational leadership supported by the military for security, a redesigned NYSC uniform and a new graduation ceremony that will replace the traditional Passing Out Parade.
Ayodele Olawande, Minister of Youth Development, announced the decision, saying the redesigned orientation programme reflects the government’s commitment to preparing Nigerian graduates for the future of work.
“The approved reforms,” Olawande said, “will reposition the NYSC as a skills-driven, productivity-focused and youth-empowering institution that aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of building a $1 trillion economy.”
The minister described the package as the first holistic review of the scheme since it was established more than five decades ago.
“For over five decades, the NYSC has remained a powerful symbol of national unity and service. Today, we have taken a bold step to preserve that legacy while preparing it for the future. We are transforming the Scheme into a platform that not only unites Nigeria but also equips our young people with the skills, experience and opportunities they need to thrive in a fast-changing world,” Olawande said.
The FEC has directed the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to begin amending the NYSC Act and its regulations to provide the legal framework required to implement the reforms, according to the minister.
“This is more than a reform of an institution. It is an investment in Nigeria’s greatest asset—our young people. The future of the NYSC begins now, and it is brighter, more relevant and more impactful than ever,” he said.
Established in 1973 following the Nigerian Civil War, the NYSC was created to promote national unity by deploying graduates to states outside their places of origin. Introduced under Decree No. 24 of 1973, now the NYSC Act, the scheme was designed to foster national integration, self-reliance and youth participation in national development.
The latest reforms represent the first comprehensive restructuring of the scheme in its 53-year history. While preserving the NYSC’s national integration mandate, the overhaul seeks to transform the programme into a technology-enabled platform for employability, entrepreneurship and digital capacity development, supporting the Federal Government’s wider strategy to build a digitally skilled workforce capable of driving Nigeria’s digital economy.
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