The Federal Government has approved the purchase of two new communication satellites to boost Nigeria’s digital infrastructure and support President Bola Tinubu’s plan to grow the economy to $1tn.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Mr Bosun Tijani, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja at a press conference to mark Global Privacy Day 2026, organised by the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC).
Tijani said the approval marked a significant shift in Nigeria’s digital strategy, noting that the country currently stands out in West Africa for lacking active communication satellites — a gap the new assets are expected to address.
“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 I think most importantly, one that might come out to wrap your mind, that 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 been given the go-ahead to procure two new ones, ensuring that we can use that satellite to connect.”
Fibre Optic Backbone Project
The minister also said progress had been made on the Federal Government’s flagship 90,000-kilometre fibre optic backbone project, aimed at expanding broadband access nationwide.
According to him, about 60 per cent of the project has been completed, while funding for the remaining phase has already been secured.
“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,” he said.
“As we bring more Nigerians online, connectivity without protection is incomplete. Privacy is the foundation of trust, safety and sustainability in the digital world.
“The success of Nigeria’s digital economy will depend not just on infrastructure and talent, but on trust, and the NDPC remains central to building that trust.”
Tijani said the Tinubu administration was positioning digital technology as a key driver of inclusive growth, improved public service delivery, and long-term economic expansion. He added that investments were also being made in digital skills, rural connectivity, and institutional reforms.
He stressed that expanded connectivity must be matched with stronger data protection, particularly as Nigeria’s young and digitally active population continues to grow.
Growth of Nigeria’s Data Protection Sector
Speaking at the same event, the National Commissioner of the NDPC, Mr Vincent Olatunji, said Nigeria’s data protection sector has grown into a ₦16.2bn industry, generating thousands of jobs and strengthening investor confidence.
He attributed the growth to stricter regulation following the enactment of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.
According to him:
- Over ₦5.2bn has been generated in compliance revenue
- More than 23,000 jobs have been created nationwide
- 38,677 Data Controllers and Data Processors of Major Importance have been registered
- 307 Data Protection Compliance Organisations have been licensed
- 8,155 compliance audit returns have been submitted
- 246 data breach investigations have been concluded
- 11 enforcement actions, including fines and remediation directives, have been issued
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 added that Nigeria’s strengthening data protection framework has improved the country’s appeal to foreign investors, noting that independent data protection authorities are now a key requirement for cross-border business partnerships.
The commissioner said Nigeria has gained international recognition, winning the Picasso Award for Best Data Protection Authority in Africa and securing membership of bodies such as the Global Privacy Assembly and the Network of African Data Protection Authorities.
Capacity Building and Future Plans
On capacity building, Olatunji said the commission has:
- Organised 168 training programmes with over 104,000 beneficiaries
- Launched the first National Data Protection Officer Certification Examination
- Certified 494 professionals
- Introduced youth-focused digital privacy initiatives
He said these 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.”
Outlining priorities for the year, Olatunji said the NDPC will intensify enforcement of the Data Protection Act, scale up nationwide awareness campaigns, and provide clearer guidance to organisations on compliance best practices.
Satellite-to-phone services, also known as direct-to-device or direct-to-cell connectivity, allow standard smartphones to connect directly to satellites for calls, texts, and data without relying on terrestrial cell towers.
In a consultation paper, the NCC said the initiative aims to bridge connectivity gaps identified in its 2024 cluster gap study, which highlighted 87 underserved clusters nationwide.
