The Federal Government has approved the procurement of two new communication satellites as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s digital infrastructure and support President Bola Tinubu’s vision of growing the economy to $1tn.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during a press conference held to mark Global Privacy Day 2026, organised by the Nigerian Data Protection Commission.
According to the minister, the approval marks a major shift in Nigeria’s digital strategy, noting that the country is currently the only one in West Africa without active communication satellites.
“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,” Tijani said.
“But most importantly, the President has now approved the procurement of two new communication satellites. Nigeria today stands out in West Africa for not having such assets, and this approval allows us to close that gap and improve connectivity,” he added.
Tijani also gave an update on the Federal Government’s 90,000-kilometre fibre optic backbone project, describing it as a key pillar of the administration’s broadband expansion drive. He revealed that about 60 per cent of the project has already been completed, while funding for the remaining phase has been secured.
“The 90,000 kilometres fibre optic project is not a dream. Significant progress has been made, and the funding is in place,” he said.
He stressed that while expanding connectivity is critical, it must go hand in hand with strong data protection frameworks, especially as more Nigerians come online.
“Connectivity without protection is incomplete. Privacy is the foundation of trust, safety and sustainability in the digital world,” the minister said, adding that trust would ultimately determine the success of Nigeria’s digital economy.
Tijani described the Nigerian Data Protection Commission as central to the country’s digital transformation, noting that President Tinubu demonstrated early commitment to data protection by signing the Nigerian Data Protection Commission Act into law shortly after assuming office.
Meanwhile, the National Commissioner of the NDPC, Vincent Olatunji, said Nigeria’s data protection sector has grown into a ₦16.2bn industry, generating thousands of jobs and boosting investor confidence.
He attributed the growth to stricter regulation following the enactment of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, noting that the sector has so far generated over ₦5.2bn in compliance revenue and created more than 23,000 jobs nationwide.
Olatunji said compliance oversight now spans both public and private sectors, with over 38,000 data controllers and processors registered, alongside more than 300 licensed Data Protection Compliance Organisations.
He added that thousands of compliance audits have been conducted and several data breach investigations concluded, resulting in enforcement actions, including fines and remediation directives.
According to him, Nigeria’s strengthened data protection framework has improved the country’s attractiveness to foreign investors, as independent data protection authorities are increasingly required for cross-border partnerships.
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He also revealed that Nigeria has gained international recognition for its data protection efforts, winning the Picasso Award for Best Data Protection Authority in Africa and securing membership of global and regional data protection bodies.
On capacity building, Olatunji said the commission has organised numerous training programmes, certified hundreds of professionals, and launched youth-focused digital privacy initiatives.
He explained that these achievements form part of activities lined up for the 2026 National Privacy Week, scheduled to hold from January 28 to February 4, under the theme, “Privacy in the Age of Emerging Technologies: Trust, Ethics and Innovation.”
Looking ahead, Olatunji said the commission will intensify enforcement of the Data Protection Act, expand public awareness campaigns, and provide clearer guidance to organisations, while strengthening professional certification to align Nigeria’s data protection practices with global standards.
