ABUJA, Nigeria — Katsina State Governor Dikko Umaru Radda announced Wednesday that his administration plans to reach 70% broadband penetration and install 2,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable by 2030, joining a nationwide effort to expand internet access across Africa’s most populous nation.
The governor made the announcement following a business roundtable in Abuja focused on improving investment in broadband connectivity and protecting digital infrastructure.
“Broadband is no longer a luxury; it’s a lifeline of modern governance, security, education, healthcare, and economic growth,” Radda said in a statement posted to social media. “Our vision is to achieve 70% broadband penetration and lay at least 2,000 km of fibre optic network across Katsina by 2030, ensuring that both rural and urban communities are fully connected.”
The northwestern state, which already ranks among Nigeria’s top 10 for internet users with roughly 4.6 million active users, has received an $8 million credit from the World Bank under its State Action on Business Enabling Reforms programme. The funding recognises the state’s recent technology-driven reforms and efforts to improve conditions for doing business.
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Radda said his administration has removed right-of-way charges that previously hindered private companies from investing in broadband infrastructure. The state has also established a dedicated ICT directorate and introduced digital governance systems, including a Treasury Single Account, e-government services and land administration reforms.
“This achievement reflects our seriousness about digital governance, investor confidence, and transparency,” the governor said.
Katsina has shown strong growth in digital connectivity in recent years. Between the first quarter of 2019 and the first quarter of 2020, the state recorded a 41.46% jump in mobile internet subscribers, the fastest growth rate in Nigeria at the time, with users increasing from 2.6 million to 3.679 million.
The state’s broadband push comes as Nigeria’s federal government pursues its own ambitious connectivity goals. Communications Minister Bosun Tijani announced last week a $2 billion project to deliver universal broadband coverage to all 774 local government areas within three years. Tijani said improved rural connectivity could add $25 billion annually to Nigeria’s agricultural output.
Nigeria, with a population exceeding 200 million, has struggled with patchy internet access, particularly outside major cities like Lagos and Abuja. The expansion efforts in states like Katsina reflect growing recognition that digital infrastructure is essential for economic development, government services and security.
Governor Radda said Katsina aims to position itself as “a leading hub for digital growth and innovation in Northern Nigeria” and that achieving the state’s digital agenda will require continued collaboration with federal and development partners.
