FG Launches Nationwide Broadband Project to Connect Nigerian Schools to High-Speed Internet

The Federal Government has announced a major initiative aimed at connecting schools across Nigeria to reliable internet services, a move designed to strengthen digital learning and support the integration of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence into the country’s education system.

The programme follows a directive from President Bola Tinubu, who has called for faster expansion of Nigeria’s digital infrastructure to ensure that key sectors, particularly education, benefit from ongoing investments in broadband and telecommunications.

As part of efforts to drive the initiative, the Minister of Education, Maruf Alausa, and the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, recently held a strategic meeting in Abuja with stakeholders to coordinate collaboration between their ministries on a nationwide school connectivity programme.

According to a statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Education, Folashade Boriowo, the discussions focused on creating a framework that will enable internet connectivity across all levels of Nigeria’s education system. The plan covers primary schools, secondary schools, universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

Alausa explained that the new initiative builds on earlier efforts implemented through the Nigerian Research and Education Network, which previously supported broadband connectivity for tertiary institutions under a World Bank-funded project.

He noted that while the earlier project recorded significant progress in linking universities and other higher institutions to broadband infrastructure, the momentum slowed after the initial funding phase ended. As a result, the government is now working to revive and expand the programme to cover the entire education sector nationwide.

According to the minister, internet connectivity goes beyond fibre optic cables and also includes telecommunications towers, satellite systems and other digital infrastructure needed to deliver stable internet services across the country.

He revealed that the Federal Government is currently implementing several large-scale digital infrastructure projects. These include the deployment of approximately 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic broadband infrastructure, the installation of about 3,700 telecommunications towers—especially in rural and underserved communities—and the expansion of satellite capacity to strengthen nationwide internet coverage.

Alausa added that the government is taking proactive steps to ensure schools are deliberately integrated into the expanding digital network as broadband cables are installed and telecommunications towers are deployed nationwide.

He explained that the strategy is to ensure that schools at all levels, from primary and junior secondary institutions to senior secondary schools and tertiary institutions, are directly connected to the growing broadband infrastructure.

To accelerate implementation, the governing council of the Nigerian Research and Education Network will be expanded to include representatives responsible for foundational and secondary education. This is expected to improve coordination across the entire education system.

The minister also disclosed that two technical working groups have been established to fast-track the programme. One group will focus on improving internet connectivity for tertiary institutions, while the second group will address internet access for primary and secondary schools.

Alausa expressed optimism that the first phase of the project will begin to deliver measurable improvements within the next three months.

He said improved internet connectivity will enable students and teachers to access global learning platforms, digital educational tools and modern technologies that are increasingly shaping education systems worldwide.

The minister also noted that improved digital infrastructure will support ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening the integrity of national examinations. He revealed that the government plans to gradually transition major national examinations to Computer-Based Testing.

According to him, examinations conducted by bodies such as WAEC and NECO could move fully to Computer-Based Testing within the next two to three years, following the model currently used by JAMB.

Speaking during the meeting, Tijani stressed that technology-driven education cannot succeed without strong and reliable internet connectivity.

He explained that although Nigeria has around eight international subsea internet cables—one of the highest numbers in Africa—the major challenge lies in distributing this internet capacity across the country.

Tijani noted that most of the internet bandwidth enters Nigeria through submarine cables landing in Lagos. However, without sufficient inland fibre infrastructure, it becomes difficult to extend reliable connectivity to schools and communities in other parts of the country.

He added that the ongoing 90,000-kilometre national fibre expansion project is designed to extend broadband access to every local government area in Nigeria.

According to him, the planned deployment of 3,700 rural telecommunications towers will also improve connectivity in underserved communities, with many of the installations expected to be located close to schools to ensure that educational institutions benefit directly.

Both ministers reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening collaboration between the education and communications sectors. They emphasized that investments in digital infrastructure must translate into improved learning outcomes and better access to educational resources.

The Federal Government believes that expanding internet connectivity across Nigeria’s education system will equip students with the digital skills needed to compete in an increasingly technology-driven global economy while also improving access to quality education across the country.