Nigeria Must Implement AI Strategies, Says Digital Economy Minister

The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has emphasised that the country’s future economic survival and global competitiveness depend on the swift adoption of artificial intelligence (AI).

Speaking at the ongoing Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja during a panel session themed “Smart Growth, Digital Leap”, Tijani said Nigeria must act with urgency in adopting and investing in AI to drive transformative growth across key sectors. Say’s Nigerian must act with urgency in adopting and investment investing in Ai to drive transformative growth across key sectors

Tijani revealed that the federal government has commenced the rollout of a $2bn fibre-optic programme, with government funding 49 percent of the cost while private sector investors provide the remaining 51 percent.

He further added that the project would ensure every state and local government area has access points, enabling smaller internet service providers to extend connectivity nationwide.

Drawing comparisons with Brazil’s use of digital infrastructure to boost agricultural productivity and China’s installation of over four m5G towers, Tijani warned that Nigeria risks falling behind without decisive investment in digital infrastructure.

He attributed the country’s heavy reliance on imported agricultural products partly to limited connectivity and the inability to modernise farming practices at scale.

The minister also announced a planned ₦21bn research fund to support universities, research institutions and innovators in areas such as digital literacy, cybersecurity and online safety.

He stressed that the government’s ongoing reforms in the digital economy were already yielding positive results, with firms in the sector reporting strong profits.

Tijani called for stronger collaboration among government, private sector players, civil society and research institutions to accelerate digital transformation.

“Nigeria cannot afford to wait another decade to embrace AI and meaningful connectivity,” he said.
Executive Officer of IHS Nigeria, Mohamad Darwish, stated that Nigeria cannot achieve inclusive prosperity by 2030 without making digital technology a central driver of growth.

He described digital infrastructure as the backbone of national productivity and urged both government and private investors to act boldly.