The Federal Government has announced plans to expand telecommunications infrastructure across Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, with the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy targeting substantial connectivity of the area before Christmas 2026.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, disclosed this while commending the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, PhD, CFR, for his intervention in securing the inclusion of Bende Federal Constituency in the National Universal Communications Access Programme (NUCAP).
NUCAP is a Federal Government initiative designed to extend reliable mobile and broadband connectivity to communities that remain unserved or underserved by existing commercial network operators.
The programme is being implemented in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive that every unserved and underserved part of Nigeria should be brought online.
According to the ministry, the intervention is expected to go beyond improving access to telephone calls and the internet, with potential benefits for agriculture, commerce, education, healthcare, financial services and the digital economy.
Tijani said Bende Local Government Area is among the communities prioritised under the programme, following the intervention of Deputy Speaker Kalu, who represents Bende Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
Speaking during a meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, the minister said the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy was working closely with Kalu’s office to achieve the objectives of the connectivity programme.
He said:
“In line with the directive of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, that every unserved and underserved part of Nigeria should be brought online, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy is implementing the National Universal Communications Access Programme (NUCAP) to extend reliable mobile and broadband connectivity to communities that remain outside adequate commercial network coverage.
“Bende Local Government Area is one of the areas being prioritised under this initiative. The intervention is being undertaken in close collaboration with Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Member representing Bende Federal Constituency, who brought the connectivity needs of communities in the area to our attention and has been an important stakeholder and supporter of the initiative.
“As a first step, a new telecommunications tower is currently nearing completion in the Bende area along the Umuahia–Ohafia Road. Once activated, the site will improve connectivity for surrounding communities and provide an important first layer of coverage along this corridor.
“Our ambition, however, is much broader. Bende is a geographically extensive LGA with its population spread across several distinct communities. Our preliminary assessment indicates that, in addition to the tower currently being completed, approximately 5–8 additional strategically positioned sites may be required to provide strong coverage across the LGA. This will be validated through detailed technical assessments of existing operator infrastructure and current coverage gaps.”
FG targets connectivity across Bende before Christmas
The minister explained that the government’s objective was not merely to provide infrastructure but to ensure that the connectivity delivered has a meaningful impact on the lives and economic activities of people living in rural communities.
Tijani said reliable telecommunications coverage would enable farmers and traders to access markets, young people to take advantage of digital opportunities, schools and healthcare facilities to use online services, while businesses would be able to participate more effectively in the digital economy.
He added:
“Working with the Deputy Speaker and other stakeholders, we will now assess priority clusters across Bende, including Uzuakoli, Ozuitem/Nkpa, Item, Igbere, Alayi/Ugwueke and Itumbauzo/Umuhu-Ezechi, while ensuring that NUCAP infrastructure complements rather than duplicates existing commercial networks.
“Our immediate goal is to determine whether we can substantially connect the entire Bende LGA before Christmas 2026. This is an ambitious target, but it reflects the urgency of the President’s directive and our determination to ensure that geography does not prevent Nigerians from participating in the digital economy.
“The impact extends well beyond making phone calls or accessing the internet. Reliable connectivity can enable farmers and traders to reach markets, young people to access digital opportunities, schools and healthcare facilities to use online services, businesses to participate in the digital economy, and citizens to access financial and government services.
“Bende therefore represents the model at the heart of NUCAP: a Presidential commitment to connect every Nigerian, implemented by the Ministry in partnership with legislators, communities, operators and other stakeholders who understand where the connectivity gaps are and can help us close them.
“We look forward to continuing our work with Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu and the people of Bende, with the ambition of making Bende an example of what is possible when national policy, local leadership and telecommunications infrastructure are brought together to achieve universal connectivity”, he said.
Kalu: Initiative will strengthen 2027 election process
Reacting to the development, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for approving Bende in Abia State as a model centre for the Federal Government’s connectivity policy.
Kalu also praised the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy under Tijani for what he described as the speed with which the initiative was being implemented.
The Deputy Speaker said his office would continue working with the ministry and the Abia State Government to ensure that the federal constituency receives extensive network coverage before the 2027 general elections.
He further assured that other parts of Abia State would also benefit from the initiative.
Kalu said:
“I must express our profound gratitude to the father of the nationa, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR for being intentional about the holistic development of the country. For us, communication plays a vital role in the business and agro sectors of our economy. So, we appreciate him immensely for this initiative.
“Also, working with the minister, I have seen raw energy of a project manager more than a just a minister. There is an intentional effort to open our digital space across the nation for businesses to thrive and Abia and Bende people appreciate that. 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.
“The intention is to end poor network connectivity in Abia and the support of the Governor of Abia state has made things much easier for us”, Kalu said.
The Federal Government’s connectivity drive is expected to provide a major boost to communities that have historically faced poor telecommunications coverage, while also supporting economic activities and access to digital services.
The Bende intervention will initially focus on the telecommunications tower currently nearing completion along the Umuahia–Ohafia Road, followed by technical assessments to determine the locations of additional sites required to achieve wider coverage across the local government area.
