Nigeria’s Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, is working towards transforming the digital infrastructure of the country’s 774 local government headquarters by 2027.
This project tagged “Project 774 LG Connectivity,” aims to provide reliable and affordable internet access to all Local Government Secretariats, bridging the digital divide and fostering inclusive growth.
The project is being executed in collaboration with Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited and Galaxy Backbone, under the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
With Project 774 LG Connectivity in progress, reliable internet access is reaching Local Government Areas across Nigeria, supporting a foundation for improved digital services. Building on this progress, our next #DevsInGovernment session will focus on ‘Innovating Digital… pic.twitter.com/eKTSqxUjwP
— Fed. Min. of Comms, Innovation & Digital Economy (@FMCIDENigeria) November 13, 2024
This partnership is expected to leverage the expertise of these agencies to deliver a robust and sustainable digital infrastructure.
The project is being executed in collaboration with Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited and Galaxy Backbone, under the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
This partnership is expected to leverage the expertise of these agencies to deliver a robust and sustainable digital infrastructure.
The Minister of Communications Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani stated this at a stakeholders retreat on project 774 connectivity in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Dr. Tijani said the Government has a target of 2027 to digitalise all remaining Local Government headquarters in the country fully.
“If you’re talking about durations as to when we’re going to reach all the 774, the goal is that by 2027, we’ve spread that out in the blueprint that was put out.”
Earlier in his presentation, the Minister said one of the project’s goals was to foster inclusive development and access to digital public infrastructure in Government offices all over Nigeria.
This includes the most remote areas of the country that may have been previously underserved or unserved.
He explained that the Ministry will provide affordable and reliable Internet access and resources required to deliver efficient public services through strategic partnerships and the deployment of cutting-edge technology.
According to Tijani, the role of the Local Government Areas in delivering public services in Nigeria includes healthcare, education, social welfare, infrastructure development and waste management, among others.
“Provision of essential primary healthcare services, including immunisation, maternal and child health programmes and disease prevention initiatives.
“Management and administration of primary and secondary schools and implementation of education policies.
“implementation of social assistance programmes to support vulnerable populations, including the elderly, disabled, and economically disadvantaged individuals and families,” he said.
He underscored the benefits of connecting local government secretariats in Nigeria to enhance access to information and services.
“Some of the benefits empower local entrepreneurs and businesses. It fosters digital skills and innovation. It promotes inclusive development and strengthens governance and accountability,” he said.
In his opening remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), Oluyomi Arowosafe, said the provision of internet access, wide internet coverage, and ICT in underserved, unserved, and rural areas will support social inclusiveness and social equity in the country.
To this end, he said, “The USPF is doing that with the strategies that we have to provide connectivity, and we do that by granting subsidy or providing grants to our implementers, and they go to rural areas to deliver those services.
“And the anchors of this programme, Project 774, the USPF, which facilitates the Universal Service Provision Fund under the supervision of the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy.
“One of the challenges that we have seen over time, like the Human Development Index of Nigeria, is about 161 out of 193, which we intend, through our contribution in the local government, to support and add value to and probably improve in the standard of living, health, and other areas.
“And all this is to support the eight strategic priority areas of the federal government, priority three and priority five, which have to do with economic growth and inclusiveness.
“‘At the same time, the strategic blueprint of the Ministry of Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy, which has to do with infrastructure, and the other item is the knowledge area.
“All these areas are things that support Project 774 Local Government connectivity. And the Project 774 connectivity, as it stands, is basically to support citizens’ engagement in the Local Government, which to an extent we need to improve from where it is to where we want to go,” Arowosafe explained.
The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kogi State, Kingsley Fanwo, speaking on the digitalisation of LGAs activities, said:
“The project has already started in the state. Some local government areas in Kogi State are already benefiting from this project. So it is something that is connecting the people and helping in digitising the administration of local government councils in the state.
“We want all the local government areas to be connected, to enjoy the connectivity—not only that but a lot of government offices too so that the operations will be digitised,” he added.
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