The Federal Government has commenced plans to expand mobile and broadband connectivity across underserved communities in Abia State, with Bende Local Government Area identified as a priority area under the National Universal Communications Access Programme (NUCAP).
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, disclosed this during a meeting with the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, in Abuja.
Tijani said the initiative was part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to ensure that unserved and underserved communities across Nigeria are connected to reliable telecommunications services.
He also commended Kalu for drawing the Federal Government’s attention to the connectivity needs of communities within the Bende Federal Constituency and supporting efforts to address the gaps.
New Telecom Tower Nears Completion
As part of the intervention, a new telecommunications tower is currently nearing completion along the Umuahia–Ohafia Road in Bende.
The minister said the facility, once activated, would improve network coverage for communities around the corridor and provide an important first layer of connectivity in the area.
However, Tijani noted that the single tower would not be sufficient to provide comprehensive coverage across Bende, which is geographically extensive and has its population distributed across several communities.
Preliminary assessments indicate that an additional five to eight strategically located sites may be required to achieve stronger coverage across the Local Government Area.
The minister said detailed technical assessments would be conducted to determine existing infrastructure and identify areas where additional sites are required.
Communities Targeted For Improved Coverage
According to Tijani, the government will assess priority clusters across Bende, including Uzuakoli, Ozuitem/Nkpa, Item, Igbere, Alayi/Ugwueke and Itumbauzo/Umuhu-Ezechi.
The NUCAP infrastructure will be deployed in a manner that complements existing commercial networks and avoids unnecessary duplication.
The Federal Government is targeting substantial coverage of Bende before the end of 2026, with the minister describing the timeline as ambitious but necessary to meet the President’s directive on universal connectivity.
Connectivity To Support Rural Economy
Tijani said the initiative is not limited to improving access to phone calls and internet services.
According to him, reliable connectivity can help farmers and traders access wider markets, enable young people to participate in digital opportunities and allow schools and healthcare facilities to make greater use of online services.
Businesses in rural communities would also be able to participate more effectively in the digital economy, while residents could gain easier access to financial and government services.
The minister said the intervention reflects the broader objectives of NUCAP, which seeks to connect Nigerians living in areas where commercial telecommunications coverage remains inadequate.
Kalu Welcomes Federal Intervention
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for approving Bende as a model centre for the connectivity initiative.
He also commended the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy for the pace at which the project is being implemented.
Kalu said his office would continue to work with the ministry and the Abia State Government to ensure that a significant portion of Bende Federal Constituency receives network coverage.
He also expressed the expectation that other parts of Abia State would benefit from the initiative.
“It is important to state that beyond communications and growth of businesses, the initiative will also enhance the integrity of the 2027 general election with the needed network coverage across all polling units,” Kalu said.
He noted that reliable communications infrastructure would be particularly important to the business and agricultural sectors, while also supporting broader economic development.
Kalu further credited the cooperation between the Federal Government, the Abia State Government and other stakeholders for creating a more favourable environment for the project.
NUCAP And Abia’s Digital Future
The planned expansion forms part of the Federal Government’s broader effort to address Nigeria’s digital divide by extending telecommunications infrastructure to communities that have historically lacked adequate commercial coverage.
For rural communities in Abia, improved network and broadband access could create opportunities for digital businesses, online education, financial services, healthcare and agricultural market access.
The Federal Government said it would continue working with Kalu, the Abia State Government, telecommunications operators, communities and other stakeholders to identify connectivity gaps and deploy infrastructure where it is most needed.
If the planned additional sites are delivered alongside the tower already nearing completion, Bende could become a significant test case for the Federal Government’s effort to extend universal digital connectivity to underserved communities in Nigeria.