FG APPROVES TWO NEW SATELLITES TO BOOST DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE, SUPPORT $1TN ECONOMY PLAN
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
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 ambition to grow the economy to $1 trillion.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during a press conference to mark Global Privacy Day 2026, organised by the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC).
Tijani said the approval signalled a major shift in Nigeria’s digital strategy, noting that the country is currently the only one in West Africa without active communication satellites.
“As you know, Mr President has been very clear about his ambition to build a $1tn economy, and digital technology is central to achieving that vision,” he said.
“But most importantly, the President has now approved that we should procure two new satellites. Nigeria today is the only country in West Africa with non-communication satellites, and we have now been given the go-ahead to procure two new ones to enhance connectivity.”
The minister also gave an update on the Federal Government’s flagship 90,000-kilometre fibre optic backbone project, aimed at expanding broadband access nationwide. He said about 60 per cent of the project had been completed, with funding secured for the remaining phases.
“The 90,000 kilometres fibre optic project is not a dream. About 60 per cent of the work has already been completed, and the funding for the project is secure,” Tijani said.
He stressed that as connectivity expands, data protection must be strengthened, describing privacy as the foundation of trust, safety and sustainability in the digital ecosystem. According to him, the success of Nigeria’s digital economy will depend not only on infrastructure and talent, but also on trust.
Tijani added that the Tinubu administration was positioning digital technology as a driver of inclusive growth, improved public service delivery and long-term economic expansion, with investments in digital skills, rural connectivity and institutional reforms. He also noted that President Tinubu demonstrated early commitment to data protection by signing the Nigerian Data Protection Commission Act shortly after assuming office.
Meanwhile, the National Commissioner of the NDPC, Vincent Olatunji, said Nigeria’s data protection sector had grown into a ₦16.2bn industry, generating thousands of jobs and boosting investor confidence.
Olatunji attributed the growth to stricter regulation following the enactment of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023. He said the sector had generated over ₦5.2bn in compliance revenue and created more than 23,000 jobs nationwide.
According to him, 38,677 Data Controllers and Data Processors of Major Importance have been registered under the law, alongside 307 licensed Data Protection Compliance Organisations. He added that 8,155 compliance audit returns had been submitted, while 246 data breach investigations had been concluded, leading to 11 enforcement actions.
Olatunji said the commission recently issued the General Application and Implementation Directive to clarify enforcement procedures and translated the Data Protection Act into three major Nigerian languages to improve public understanding.
He noted that Nigeria’s strengthened data protection framework had enhanced its attractiveness to foreign investors and earned international recognition, including the Picasso Award for Best Data Protection Authority in Africa, as well as membership of global and regional data protection bodies.
On capacity building, Olatunji said the NDPC had organised 168 training programmes with over 104,000 beneficiaries, certified 494 professionals, and launched youth-focused digital privacy initiatives.
He said the milestones form part of activities for the 2026 National Privacy Week, scheduled for January 28 to February 4, with the theme: “Privacy in the Age of Emerging Technologies: Trust, Ethics and Innovation.”
He added that the commission would intensify enforcement of the Data Protection Act in 2026, scale up public awareness, and strengthen professional certification to align Nigeria’s data protection practices with global standards.
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