Nigerian Government commits N160bn to installation of new telecoms towers across rural communities

*President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration approves N160 billion investment for installation of 4,000 additional telecoms towers in underserved rural communities to enhance connectivity amid the recent declaration of security emergency

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Sequel to the Nigeria Government’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval of the digital infrastructure project, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has dedicated N160 billion investment for installation of 4,000 additional telecoms towers in underserved rural communities.

ConsumerConnect reports the FEC’s approval for the supplementary telecoms infrastructure project has come amid heightened security challenges on several parts of the country.

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Underscoring the strategic importance of information sharing cum community policing for protection of lives and property, President Tinubu lately declared a nationwide security emergency.

Industry watchers said this the government’s move to bankroll the telecoms towers project would serve a dual role in connectivity and crime-fighting across communities in Nigeria.

Earlier, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, Honourable Minister for Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE), had said the rollout of the telecoms towers, spearheaded by the FMCIDE, would transform the “hard-to-reach” zones into hubs of economic vitality and surveillance capability in the economy.

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Alhaji Mohammed Idris, Honourable Minister for Information and National Orientation, confirmed the FEC approval while speaking with the State House Correspondents after the FEC meeting Wednesday, December 3, 2025, in Abuja, FCT.

Minister: Socio-economic and security benefits of new telecoms towers

Idris stated: “The Federal Executive Council has taken a decision that 4,000 of such towers be established or erected in these very underserved communities across this country.”

Emphasising the broader impact of the digital infrastructure programme, he said: “Indeed, this will also help in fighting insecurity and enhancing commerce and economic activity amongst the people of those communities.”

The project implementation reportedly comes at an estimated N40 million per telecoms tower for infrastructure and equipment, excluding land acquisition and licensing fees in the digital ecosystem.

It was also gathered that the project represents a massive outlay aimed at connecting estimated 23 million Nigerian consumers currently cut off from basic voice and data services in Nigeria.

It is equally noted that such consumers scattered across vast rural expanses, endure blackouts in coverage that isolate them from emergency response, digital banking, and e-commerce opportunities.

Nigeria’s telecoms infrastructure has grown exponentially since the sector’s liberalisation in 2001, when mobile penetration hovered below one percent.

However, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) data indicated that as of now, Nigeria has deployed a total of 53,460 3G and 4G Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) in the last five years.

Logistical challenges of installation, maintenance of telecoms towers

The West African country’s telecoms infrastructure is supposedly still considered inadequate.

A recent estimate also noted that 70,000 to 80,000 base stations are needed for effective coverage, especially to support the rollout of 5G services in the telecoms space.

The addition of these 4,000 telecoms towers could extend coverage to 20 percent to 30 percent more of underserved landmass, particularly in the North-East and Middle Belt regions, largely affected by kidnappings, banditry and insurgency.

Amid the excitement over the installation of 4,000 additional telecoms towers come formidable hurdles.

Deploying a single base station in Nigeria is a logistical challenge, according report.

Some industry stakeholders reportedly said aside from the estimated N40 million baseline for telecoms masts, antennas, and power backups, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) yet contend with the increasing diesel cost, up 300 percent since 2023 due to subsidy removals, leaving sites vulnerable to blackouts in off-grid areas across the country.

Likewise, vandalism has been cited as another rampant hurdle.

In 2024 alone, over 1,200 towers were hit, often for scrap metal or as reprisals in conflict zones, costing the industry N50 billion in repairs and lost revenue.

Multiple layers of Right-of-Way (RoW) fees from state and local governments also add another 20 percent to 30 percent to expenses, with inconsistent enforcement leading to delays of about six months per site.

Environmental challenges, from flooding in the Niger Delta to erosion in the Sahel, further inflate preparation costs, while skilled labour shortages slow installations in the industry, a report said.

Telecoms stakeholders have long advocated for reforms: harmonised RoW tariffs capped at N140 per kilometre, mandatory hybrid solar-diesel systems to slash fuel dependency by 70 percent, and co-location incentives allowing multiple operators to share towers, potentially halving per-site costs.

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