ABUJA, NIGERIA — Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, officially announced on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the procurement of two new communication satellites.
The announcement was made during a press conference to mark Global Privacy Day 2026, organized by the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC).
1. Closing the West African Satellite Gap
Minister Tijani highlighted a surprising reality: Nigeria is currently the only country in West Africa without an active communication satellite.
- The Goal: The new satellites, identified in earlier reports as NigComSat-2A and 2B, are designed to replace the aging NigComSat-1R (which has been operational since 2011).
- Strategic Autonomy: These assets will provide secure, high-speed connectivity for national security, telemedicine, e-education, and rural broadband, ensuring Nigeria isn’t dependent on foreign providers for critical data flow.
2. “Project Bridge”: 90,000km Fiber Backbone is 60% Ready
The Minister also provided a progress report on the flagship 90,000-kilometre fibre optic backbone project, known as Project Bridge.
- Progress Check: Tijani confirmed that 60% of the project has already been completed.
- Funding Secured: Unlike previous infrastructure attempts, the Minister boldly stated that “the money for this project is secure.”
- Impact: Once finalized, this network will connect all 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs), creating a “wholesale, open-access” system that is expected to slash the cost of mobile data for everyday Nigerians.
3. Privacy as the Foundation of Trust
Tijani emphasized that while connectivity is the “engine,” privacy is the “fuel.” As part of National Privacy Week (Jan 28 – Feb 4), the government is prioritizing:
- Trust: Building a secure digital ecosystem so citizens feel safe using online government and financial services.
- Enforcement: The NDPC will intensify enforcement of the Nigeria Data Protection Act, ensuring organizations handle citizen data ethically.
