Nigeria’s recent approval of two new communication satellites is more than an infrastructure upgrade, it is a strategic economic and geopolitical decision.
At its core, this move reinforces the country’s ambition to build a $1 trillion economy, where digital infrastructure, space technology, and secure connectivity form the backbone of national productivity and global competitiveness.
As Nigeria accelerates its digital transformation agenda, the message is increasingly clear: terrestrial fibre infrastructure alone cannot meet the demands of a modern, resilient digital economy.
Under the leadership of Dr. Bosun Tijani, the Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, the country is closing long-standing gaps in national connectivity.
While progress on the 90,000km national fibre backbone, now over 60 percent complete, is commendable, fibre must be complemented by satellite infrastructure to achieve universal coverage, redundancy, and security.
The future of connectivity is hybrid: fibre plus satellite.
Satellites as Critical National Infrastructure
Through NigComSat, led by Jane Egerton-Idehen, the managing director and CEO, Nigeria is strengthening its space-enabled communications capabilities across key sectors, including broadband access, aviation, maritime operations, defence, disaster recovery, and remote-area connectivity.
Satellite communications are no longer optional, they are a core pillar of national infrastructure and digital sovereignty.
Global engagements at Space-Comm Expo Europe in London, alongside industry and investment exhibitions across the United States and Canada, reinforce a clear international consensus: satellite communications remain the most scalable and practical solution for last-mile connectivity, particularly in regions where fibre deployment is economically prohibitive, physically insecure, or geographically impractical.
For emerging and frontier markets, satellites are not a fallback, they are a strategic advantage.
From Vision to Execution
The focus now must shift decisively from policy intent to execution.
This includes:
- Mobilising diaspora capital and venture investment into Nigeria’s digital, defence, and space-technology ecosystem
- Structuring partnerships with OEMs, satellite operators, defence contractors, and space-technology firms
- Driving capacity development, CAPEX optimisation, and indigenous technical capability
- Championing the protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII)
- Embedding strong Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) frameworks aligned with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA), Cybercrimes Act, and regulatory oversight from NCC and NITDA
These efforts are backed by commitments exceeding ₦1 billion in combined CAPEX and OPEX across infrastructure deployment, enterprise platforms, software upgrades, OEM partnerships, and workforce development.
A Call for Strategic Partnerships
Nigeria’s space and digital infrastructure ecosystem is open to serious, long-term partners.
We are actively engaging with strategic investors in satellite communications, secure connectivity, and digital infrastructure; OEMs and technology partners across space, defence, and cybersecurity, and institutional and diaspora investors seeking structured, compliant entry into Africa’s fastest-growing digital markets
For stakeholders based in Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States, or Canada, this is a timely opportunity to participate in space-enabled connectivity, last-mile broadband solutions, and secure digital infrastructure partnerships across Africa.
Nigeria’s future is space-enabled, secure, and globally connected. The window for early, strategic collaboration is open.
Olanrewaju Sulyman Lanre, is a member, N&CBN Toronto GTA Hub. He is also the ED/CEO, Equinoxcore Technology Limited.
