Nigerian Communications Commission Partners With Plateau State to Accelerate Broadband Expansion in Remote Underserved Regions

The NCC is targeting underserved rural areas in Plateau State for broadband expansion to boost digital inclusion and support local innovation ecosystems.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 26, 2026, 4:28 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Newsdiaryonline

A Strategic Alliance for Regional Digital Infrastructure

The Nigerian Communications Commission has officially designated Plateau State as a primary partner in the federal government’s national broadband agenda. In a recent diplomatic visit to the Government House in Jos, NCC Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Ms. Rimini Makama, highlighted the state’s unique potential to serve as a catalyst for technological growth. This commitment is part of a broader federal effort to ensure that the digital economy reaches beyond metropolitan centers, unlocking new economic opportunities for citizens in previously isolated regions.

Leveraging Local Policy Success for Broadband Deployment

The commission’s interest in Plateau is driven by visible indicators of political will, specifically the state’s progressive Right of Way policies and the recent TechFest declarations. Ms. Makama noted that these administrative actions create an enabling environment that is essential for attracting the private investment required for heavy infrastructure projects. By removing regulatory bottlenecks, the state government has signaled a readiness to transition from traditional governance to a modern, technology driven system that supports high speed data networks.

Addressing the Persistent Connectivity Gap in Rural LGAs

Despite the growing innovation ecosystem in urban areas like Jos, a significant portion of Plateau’s rural local government areas remains digitally excluded. The NCC emphasized that many communities are still cut off from the global economy, which severely limits local enterprise, education, and access to essential digital services. Bridging this divide is now being framed as a shared responsibility between federal regulators and the state administration, with plans to deploy the Universal Service Provision Fund to subsidize connectivity in the most remote districts.