Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, has revealed that bandits are using sophisticated technology to evade security tracking.
Speaking on Channels TV’s Politics Today, he explained that criminals “bounce calls off multiple towers,” making it harder for authorities to trace their movements. Tijani noted that this prompted the government to invest in telecommunications infrastructure in vulnerable areas.
The minister also said Nigeria is upgrading satellites to enhance monitoring capabilities. “Because if our towers are not working, our satellites will work,” he said, stressing the need for significant investment in telecoms. Tijani compared Nigeria’s 40,000 towers to China’s four million 5G towers, highlighting the scale of the infrastructure gap.
Insecurity in northern states has risen recently, with schoolchildren abducted in Niger and Kebbi and attacks on churches in Kogi and Kwara. The Nigeria Labour Congress has scheduled a nationwide protest for December 17 in response to the spate of violence, reflecting growing public concern over safety.