The Federal Government has approved the acquisition of two new communication satellites to strengthen Nigeria’s digital infrastructure and support President Bola Tinubu’s vision of a $1 trillion economy.

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Mr. Bosun Tijani, announced this on Wednesday in Abuja during a press briefing marking Global Privacy Day 2026, hosted by the Nigerian Data Protection Commission.

Tijani noted that the approval represents a major shift in Nigeria’s digital strategy, highlighting that the country currently lags behind its West African neighbors in having active communication satellites—a gap the new satellites are expected to fill.

He said, “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.

“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.”

He also highlighted progress on the Federal Government’s flagship 90,000-kilometre fibre optic backbone project, designed to expand broadband access nationwide. According to the minister, approximately 60% of the project has been completed, with funding already secured to finish the remaining work.

“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. 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,” the minister said.

Tijani stated that the Tinubu administration is leveraging digital technology as a catalyst for inclusive growth, enhanced public service delivery, and sustainable economic expansion, adding that investments are also being directed toward digital skills development, rural connectivity, and institutional reforms.

He emphasized that expanding connectivity must go hand in hand with stronger data protection, particularly as Nigeria’s young, digitally active population continues to grow. He described the NDPC as central to the country’s digital transformation, noting that trust and privacy are essential for sustaining innovation.

Tijani added that President Tinubu demonstrated an early commitment to data protection by signing the Nigerian Data Protection Commission Act into law shortly after taking office.

Meanwhile, the National Commissioner of the NDPC, Mr. Vincent Olatunji, said Nigeria’s data protection sector has grown into a N16.2 billion industry, creating thousands of jobs and boosting investor confidence.

Olatunji credited the sector’s growth to stricter regulations following the enactment of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023. He noted that the sector has already generated over N5.2 billion in compliance revenue and created more than 23,000 jobs nationwide.

He added that compliance oversight now spans both the public and private sectors, with 38,677 Data Controllers and Data Processors of Major Importance registered under the law, alongside 307 licensed Data Protection Compliance Organisations.

He stated that 8,155 compliance audit reports have been submitted, while 246 data breach investigations have been completed, leading to 11 enforcement actions, including fines and remediation orders.

Olatunji added that the commission recently issued the General Application and Implementation Directive to clarify enforcement procedures, and the Data Protection Act has been translated into three major Nigerian languages to improve public awareness.

He emphasized that Nigeria’s strengthened data protection framework has enhanced its attractiveness to foreign investors, as independent data protection authorities are now a key requirement for cross-border business partnerships.

The commissioner said Nigeria has also gained international recognition, winning the Picasso Award for Best Data Protection Authority in Africa and joining global bodies such as the Global Privacy Assembly and the Network of African Data Protection Authorities.

On capacity building, he noted that the commission has organised 168 training programmes benefiting over 104,000 participants, launched the first National Data Protection Officer Certification Examination, certified 494 professionals, and introduced youth-focused digital privacy initiatives.

He said these milestones are part of 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.”

It was earlier reported that the Nigerian Communications Commission plans to use satellite technology to extend mobile coverage to an estimated 23.3 million Nigerians who currently lack access to terrestrial networks.

The satellite-to-phone service, also called direct-to-device or direct-to-cell connectivity, enables standard smartphones to connect directly to satellites for calls, texts, and data, bypassing traditional cell towers and bridging coverage gaps in remote areas.