It Will Cost $2bn To Lay Fibre Cables Across Nigeria – Minister

Minister of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has said that it will cost about $2bn to lay fibre optics cables across Nigeria.

The minister added that advanced technology, the Fifth-Generation (5G) network, exists in Nigeria.

He, however, stated that the infrastructure that supports the advanced technology is not everywhere in the country.

He further said it would cost about $2bn to wire the whole of Nigeria for the seamless experience of the 5G network.

“We do in some places,” he said when asked whether 5G exists in Nigeria.

“The infrastructure that drives 5G is not something that is across the nation.

“So, if you are subscribed to 5G and you move into locations where the infrastructure cannot support it, of course, the quality will drop. 5G exists in Nigeria and there are telcos with the licence,” the minister said.

Tijani said the government is doing everything possible to increase the kilometre of fibre optics cables in Nigeria.

The minister hoped that under his leadership, the ministry, would in the first four years of the President Bola Tinubu administration, achieve the aspiration of wiring Nigeria.

He disclosed that the current government want to connect schools, hospitals, government offices and other important places with fibre cables. “Because once we can do this, we start to see changes in the delivery of public services,” the minister said.