By Abuja, Nigeria
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s sustained efforts to stimulate growth and support Nigerian businesses and also strengthen investor confidence in the national economy, describing the process as central to Nigeria’s expanding economic diplomacy.
The minister spoke during the signing of an agreement in Malabo for the development of telecommunications infrastructure to service Equatorial Guinea. The project centres on a subsea fibre-optic cable designed to boost broadband capacity, digital communications, and cybersecurity cooperation across the region. 
According to a statement by the Special Assistant to the Minister on Media and Communication Strategy, Alkasim Abdulkadir, the initiative builds directly on President Tinubu’s official visit to Equatorial Guinea in August 2024, during which several bilateral agreements were concluded. He noted that the new telecommunications project represents a practical outcome of those engagements, aimed at deepening economic connectivity across Africa.
The statement further revealed that the agreement on principles was signed by Alh. Ibrahim Dikko on behalf of Backbone Connectivity Network Nigeria Ltd (BNC), while Equatorial Guinea’s Minister of Transport, Telecommunications and Artificial Intelligence Systems, Honorato Evita Oma, signed for his government. BNC is expected to play a major role in expanding digital infrastructure, strengthening connectivity, and enhancing cybersecurity capabilities.
The signing ceremony was supervised by Equatorial Guinea’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Business Promotion and Industry, Gaudencio Mohaba Messu. It was witnessed by Ambassador Tuggar; Equatorial Guinea’s Foreign Minister, Simeón Oyono Esono Angüe; and senior officials from both countries.
