In a strategic move to deepen local content in Nigeria’s digital and industrial sectors, the Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, today met with the Honourable Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, to explore areas of collaboration that will support infrastructure development, local manufacturing, and the broader economic transformation agenda of the Federal Government.

At the heart of the discussion were two major digital infrastructure initiatives under the Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy: the ongoing 90,000km fibre optic cable project aimed at expanding interconnectivity, and the planned deployment of 7,000 telecom towers across the country. Both Ministers agreed on the need to ensure 100% local steel content in these projects to create jobs, reduce import dependency, and foster homegrown industrial capacity.

“We are building for the future, and that means investing in our people, our industries, and the infrastructure that powers them both. Collaborating with the Ministry of Steel Development is a critical step toward ensuring that Nigeria’s digital expansion is built on a strong foundation of local capacity,” said Dr. Tijani, Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy.

At the meeting, both Ministers identified opportunities to integrate digital innovation training into artisanal skills development, particularly in areas such as welding and technical maintenance, which are critical to the sustainability of telecom infrastructure. They discussed setting up a joint technical team to explore how local talent can be deployed in the maintenance of Nigeria’s existing 40,000 telecom towers, and to support the production and upkeep of new infrastructure.

Additionally, discussions were held around activating potential technology clusters within industrial parks under the Ministry of Steel Development, with support from the Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy to animate these spaces for innovation, job creation, and enterprise growth.