Business | Public Interest
FG Launches NUCAP Sites in Abia, Plans 3,700 Masts to Connect 20 Million Nigerians
The federal government yesterday commissioned the first mast site under the Nigerian Universal Communications Access Project (NUCAP) in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, kicking off a nationwide rollout of 3,700 towers aimed at bringing telecommunications access to more than 20 million underserved Nigerians.
The Bende launch, organized by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy and implemented by Global Independent Connect Limited (GICL), a subsidiary of IHS Towers — was attended by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu and Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy Dr. Bosun Tijani.
Funded through the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), the initiative will also introduce Public Wi‑Fi and Smart Village solutions, beginning with seven pilot locations across Abia, Delta, Enugu, Plateau, Katsina and Ogun states. Bende is the first site to be commissioned.
Dr. Tijani said the project advances President Bola Tinubu’s goal of universal online access, emphasizing that a person’s location should not limit opportunity. “Through NUCAP, we are delivering 3,700 towers across the country. Today we are commissioning the first here in Bende,” he said, adding that all communities in Bende will be connected before Christmas.
Tijani urged residents to view the new tower as more than metal infrastructure, calling it “a tree that bears fruit” for farmers finding buyers, traders completing sales, students gaining skills and families accessing support. He linked expanded connectivity to the administration’s ambition to build a $1 trillion economy and thanked partners IHS, Huawei and MTN for their contributions. He also appealed to the community to safeguard the equipment and report faults.
Akeem Adeshina, Chief Commercial Officer of IHS Nigeria, delivered a goodwill message stressing that connectivity is an enabler that links people to information, education, commerce and public services. He said IHS — with 25 years of operations in Nigeria — is proud to deploy its capabilities through GICL and noted that the project’s true value will be measured by outcomes such as students accessing learning and entrepreneurs expanding beyond Bende.
Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, who represents Bende Federal Constituency, described the new mast as “opening a new channel of opportunity” that will improve call quality, banking transactions, online learning and emergency response. He argued that digital networks are as essential as roads for connecting communities to knowledge, markets and services, and thanked President Tinubu and Dr. Tijani for prioritizing the constituency.
Kalu highlighted persistent connectivity gaps in the area and urged traditional rulers and community leaders to donate land for future sites. He said 16 locations in Bende have been identified for phased rollout. He also raised concerns about inaccurate digital mapping—reporting that Bende town appears as “Ameke” on some GPS platforms—and requested that the ministry collaborate with mapping providers and local leaders to correct errors that hinder deliveries, business visibility and emergency response.
Kalu commended Governor Alex Otti for not politicizing federal projects in Abia and for providing land for federal institutions, including the Industrial Court, a Federal University and a Federal College of Education.