The Federal Government says 2026 will mark the full rollout of Nigeria’s digital economy reforms, with a shift from approvals and planning to large-scale deployment of connectivity, digital services, and skills development across the country.
This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, as he reflected on Nigeria’s digital economy journey at the start of the year.
“As we start a new year, I want to briefly share where Nigeria stands in its digital economy journey. 2025 was an inflection year, focused on moving our digital economy from ambition to committed execution. Much of the work happened below the surface, centred on securing approvals, mobilising partners and ensuring our priorities are not only visionary, but deliverable at scale,” Tijani said.
According to him, Nigeria crossed several important thresholds in 2025 across a number of initiatives that will shape delivery in 2026.
He noted that Project Bridge, the national fibre backbone programme, progressed to World Bank Board approval, anchoring long-term investment in ubiquitous connectivity and laying the foundation for broadband expansion.
Tijani also disclosed that the NUCAP Towers Programme secured approval for the deployment of 3,700 towers to extend connectivity to unserved and underserved communities, including rural and riverine areas.
On the legal framework, he said the Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill advanced to its final stage of approval, strengthening the regulatory and policy environment required for a modern digital economy.
He added that the Federal Executive Council approved the exploration of a franchise-based transformation of Nipost, repositioning over 1,500 postal locations as a national platform for inclusive digital and government service delivery.
The minister further stated that government launched N-ATLAS, Nigeria’s national large language model initiative, as part of building sovereign artificial intelligence capability.
On skills development, Tijani said the 3MTT programme continued to expand national digital skills capacity, while the Digital Trade Desk was launched and activated through trade missions to the United States and Sierra Leone.
He said Nigeria also delivered its Digital Public Infrastructure Standards and Framework during the year, establishing a common reference for interoperable digital systems across government.
“In parallel, led from my office, we implemented the Devs in Government initiative to strengthen in-house digital delivery capability, while advancing the groundwork for a national data exchange system and initiating National Web Design Standards to improve the quality and consistency of public digital services,” he said.
Tijani explained that strengthening Nigeria’s global digital positioning was equally important, citing coordinated engagements at UNGA80, VivaTech in Paris, and the EU–Nigeria Digital Economy Open Day in Brussels.
“These efforts contributed to new partnerships and investments, including a €45 million EU–NG Digital Economy Package,” he said.
He also highlighted developments in the telecommunications sector, noting that through tariff rationalisation, tax harmonisation and protection of critical national digital infrastructure, government helped restore market sustainability and investor confidence.
“All of this work has been undertaken in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose leadership has provided the clarity and policy backing required to pursue long-term reforms,” Tijani said.
Looking ahead, he said 2026 will focus decisively on deployment and impact, adding that with key initiatives approved and partnerships mobilised, the next phase is about execution, expanding connectivity, activating service platforms, deepening talent pipelines, enabling interoperable digital public infrastructure, and translating digital capability into economic growth and improved public services.
He expressed gratitude for collaboration and said he looks forward to delivery, adding, “I remain grateful for the shared commitment that has brought us to this point and I look forward to working as we move into delivery. Happy New Year together.”
