…Kalu identifies 16 underserved locations in Bende, seeks wider coverage
By Mercy Aikoye
The Federal Government has commenced the deployment of 3,700 telecommunications towers across the country under the National Universal Communications Access Programme (NUCAP), targeting nearly 20 million Nigerians without access to telephone and internet services.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, disclosed this on Friday during the commissioning of a NUCAP telecommunications tower along Umuahia–Ohafia Road in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State.
Tijani said the project was designed to extend mobile and broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved communities, with the newly commissioned facility marking the beginning of a nationwide rollout.
He said the initiative was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to ensure that every unconnected community in Nigeria was brought into the digital economy.
The minister said the absence of reliable telecommunications services had continued to limit economic activities, access to essential services and communication in rural communities.
According to him, farmers should be able to contact buyers, traders should conduct electronic transactions without network interruptions, and families should be able to seek emergency assistance without struggling to find a signal.
Describing the telecommunications tower as an investment in future opportunities, Tijani said its benefits would extend beyond making telephone calls to improving access to digital skills, education, markets and social connections.
He added that the Federal Government would continue working with the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, network operators and community leaders to extend coverage to other unconnected areas in Bende.
Speaking at the commissioning, Kalu said reliable telecommunications connectivity was essential to financial inclusion, education, healthcare delivery and economic development, particularly in rural communities.
The Deputy Speaker, who represents Bende Federal Constituency, said the availability of dependable network services could determine whether rural residents accessed economic opportunities or remained excluded from the benefits of the digital economy.
He noted that mobile banking applications, electronic transfers and agent banking services depended on reliable telecommunications infrastructure, adding that improved connectivity would bring financial services closer to people living far from conventional bank branches.
“For a rural trader whose payment repeatedly fails, a student who cannot join an online lesson, or a family struggling to contact a doctor, it is anything but ordinary. It can determine whether an opportunity is secured or lost,” he said.
Kalu also said the new infrastructure would help students access online learning materials, participate in virtual lessons and apply for scholarships, while enabling teachers to improve their skills through digital resources.
He added that healthcare workers in rural communities could use the network to consult specialists, exchange medical information securely and coordinate referrals, improving access to expertise beyond their immediate locations.
The Deputy Speaker further linked the project to civic participation and emergency response, stressing that reliable communication was necessary for citizens to obtain accurate information, engage their representatives and communicate during emergencies.
He disclosed that 16 additional locations requiring connectivity interventions had been identified in Bende Federal Constituency.
Kalu urged the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy and its partners to work with his office and community leaders to verify the locations, assess existing coverage gaps and develop a clear implementation plan.
He stressed that the success of the initiative would depend not only on the installation of telecommunications towers but also on reliable power supply, regular maintenance and prompt repairs whenever faults occurred.
The Deputy Speaker commended Tinubu and the ministry for selecting Bende for the launch of the programme, while acknowledging the contributions of implementing agencies, network providers, engineers and other partners.
He also appreciated Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, for supporting federal development initiatives in the state, pledging continued cooperation to accelerate infrastructure development.
Kalu called on traditional rulers and presidents-general of town unions to protect the telecommunications infrastructure, describing it as a critical national asset that would benefit communities for years to come.
The commissioning featured a live demonstration of e-learning at Bende Grammar School using the newly deployed infrastructure, as well as the distribution of mobile phones to constituents.
The Federal Government said further deployments would follow across the country in the coming days, weeks and months as efforts intensify to bridge Nigeria’s digital divide.
