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FG Plans 70,000 Investment in Telecom Towers
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has revealed that the Federal Government is preparing investments in 70,000 telecommunications towers of which over 80 per cent of them will be based in the northern part of the country.
The goal, according to him, is to close the existing connectivity gap and to make Nigeria the most inclusive digital economy in Africa where no community is left behind.
The Minister, who was speaking in Katsina State during the Arewa Tech Fest 2.0, hosted by the state government, further announced that the 90,000 kilometers of fiber optic network, aimed at connecting every corner of Nigeria, remains one of Federal Government’s biggest investments in the digital space.
“Under president Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda, we have focus on foundational initiatives that can unlock national productivity,” Tijani said.
“One of our biggest investments in the digital space is the 90,000 kilometers of fiber optic network aimed at connecting every corner of the country.
“In addition to this, the government is preparing investments in 70,000 telecommunications towers of which over 80 percent of them will be based in the Northern part of Nigeria to close the existing connectivity gap. Our goal is to make Nigeria the most inclusive digital economy in Africa where no community is left behind.
He noted that, under President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda, his Ministry has focused on foundational initiatives that can unlock national productivity.
“This tech festival today is not just an event, it has a strong signal from Katsina, the Arewa states and a signal that Arewa is ready.
“I therefore challenge participants, particularly the innovators in the room, that you don’t need to move to Lagos or Abuja to be successful, all you need is also not to wait for formation, because all you need is yourself and your formation.
“We are building a Nigeria that works for everyone in a nation where being born in Katsina or Kano is not at the disadvantage but a strategic advantage.
“The future of Nigeria and that of Africa is not being written in the silicon valley of Lagos or Abuja but being written right here today in Katsina,” he said.
Tijani advised young people to showcase their innovations for investors and philanthropists to see what they can do to assist them.
One of the participants, Jafar Alabi, advised colleagues to embrace artificial intelligence in their works in order to move forward and not be left behind.
Earlier in an interview, Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, Dr Muttaka Rabe Darma, said he expects a lot of positive changes at the end of the festival where participants are expected to develop solutions to lingering socioeconomic and security challenges facing Katsina State.
He believes that at the end of the day, Katsina State will be the greatest beneficiary and will transit from the analog economy to digital one.
About 10,000 technology investors and technology initiators attended the Arewa Tech Fest 2.0 which is the second version of its kind.
The first version of the festival tagged: “Innovating for Impact”: Technology as a Catalyst for Economic Transformation, took place last year in Kano State with a resounding success, with stakeholders poised to ensure that they triple the success of Kano in Katsina State.
The main objective of this festival is to transform Katsina from analog to digital state and to make it a technology driven economy which is obtainable in the developed countries around the world.
An open invitation was hitherto extended to entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, government institutions, academia, development partners, media, and the general public to take part in this historic festival.
Participants cut across from 19 Northern States including the Federal Capital Territory Abuja gathered not only to share success stories regarding the tech fest but also to share failures, challenges and setbacks faced in the course of their digital journey.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Jos (UniJos) branch, has declared an indefinite strike over delays in the payment of its March 2026 salary and the non-inclusion of Earned Academic Allowance (EAA).
The total withdrawal of services was announced on Wednesday by the branch chairperson, Prof. Jurbe Joseph Molwus, with effect from April 8, 2026
“Dear comrades, after following due process, we hereby request all members to abstain from lectures, conduct of examinations and statutory meetings as our salary for the month of March 2026 is yet to be paid despite our patience.
“This is in line with extant NEC resolution and our standing congress resolution. The action takes immediate effect from Wednesday, April 8, 2026, until we are paid,” Molwus said.
He explained that the delay was linked to the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, noting that the university’s bursary had completed its part in the salary payment process.
“From our consultation, the delay is occasioned by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, as the bursary of the university has done its part in the process of salary payment,” he added.
The union said its patience was being taken for granted by those responsible for the delay, warning that the situation could undermine industrial harmony.
It also urged members to fully comply with the directive, adding that a strike monitoring team had been activated to ensure adherence.
Full list: UEFA Champions League quarter-final fixtures
The Premier League will have at least five teams in next season’s UEFA Champions League after securing an additional European Performance Spot (EPS).
The extra place was confirmed after Arsenal claimed a 1-0 victory over Sporting CP in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal on Tuesday. The result ensured England will finish among UEFA’s top two leagues in this season’s coefficient rankings.
It marks the second consecutive year that the Premier League has earned a bonus slot. This season, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Newcastle United featured in the competition, while Tottenham Hotspur also qualified as a sixth entrant after winning the UEFA Europa League.
UEFA awards the additional place to the two best-performing leagues across its three major competitions — the Champions League, Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League — and England has topped the standings for most of the campaign.
All nine English teams that entered European competitions progressed beyond the group stage, although only five have reached the quarterfinals.
The battle for fifth place in the Premier League — which now guarantees Champions League qualification — remains tightly contested.
Liverpool currently sit fifth on 49 points, just one point ahead of sixth-placed Chelsea. Brentford and Everton are also within striking distance, only three points behind. In total, just seven points separate fifth from 13th in a congested table.
Path to even more spots
There is also a possibility of increased English representation in next season’s Champions League.
If Aston Villa — currently fourth — win the Europa League but finish outside the top five, they would still qualify automatically, potentially giving the Premier League six teams in the competition.
A similar situation could benefit Liverpool if they win the Champions League but finish outside the top four.
Should either scenario occur, and the winning team finishes fifth, sixth place could also secure qualification. If two English clubs win European titles while finishing fifth and sixth, even seventh place could earn a Champions League spot.
A large crowd of protesters flooded the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja on Wednesday, defying steady rain to demand electoral accountability as tensions build ahead of the 2027 elections.
What began as a protest linked to a faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) quickly grew into something bigger. People from different political parties and groups joined in, turning it into a broad coalition rally focused on defending democracy and questioning the credibility of the electoral system.
Muyideen Bashiru, a protester, said the turnout showed the concerns cut across party lines, with participants travelling in from different parts of the country.
“We’re currently heading towards the INEC office. You can see the crowd; there are hundreds, possibly thousands of people gathered,” Bashiru said.
Placard held by protesters.
ADC chieftain, Atiku Abubarka had mentioned on his Twitter Account that : Myself and other leaders of the ADC are peacefully protesting against the partisanship of the electoral umpire. Our patriotic stance is aimed at safeguarding our democracy and preventing the enthronement of a dictatorship. -AA pic.twitter.com/tYbU6v6a7Q
— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) April 8, 2026
Among those present were David Mark, former Senate President; Rauf Aregbesola, former Governor of Osun State and ex-Minister of Interior; Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State and Labour Party presidential candidate; Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Governor of Kano State and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement; and Dino Melaye, former Senator representing Kogi West, alongside other political figures.
File Photo: Rotimi Amaechi at the protest. Photo credit: ADC
The protesters had earlier gathered at David Mark’s residence, where a morning service was held to mark his 78th birthday, before moving out in a coordinated march.
“As you can see, it’s massive, this is not just about the ADC, there are members of other political parties here as well,” he said.
Some protesters. Photo credit: ADC
From Apo Legislative Quarters, the crowd surged towards the INEC office, swelling along the way and taking over major roads in the Federal Capital Territory.
“You’ll recall that this protest was initially planned for last week but was cancelled,” Bashiru said.
File Photo: Rotimi Amaechi and Dino Melaye at the protest.
The earlier plan was shelved after heavy security deployment, including roadblocks and patrol vehicles. But Wednesday’s protest appeared largely unannounced, suggesting a shift in approach that may have caught authorities off guard.
“But today feels different, it seems spontaneous, almost as if security agencies were caught off guard,” he said.
Despite the rain, the crowd kept growing at the INEC office, with an atmosphere that was intense but orderly.
“You can see the crowd behind me; it’s still growing, and the energy is intense,” Bashiru said.
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