By Martin Ekpeke

Reactions have continued to trail the decision by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, to withdraw his candidacy for the position of Deputy Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), with many Nigerians and technology professionals applauding the move while others questioned the reasons behind it.

Tijani announced his decision in a LinkedIn post, saying that after careful consideration, he had decided not to pursue the opportunity, despite its potential to make him the first Nigerian to serve as an elected ITU official in the organisation’s 160-year history.

He explained that his decision was driven by the need to remain focused on Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda, particularly major initiatives currently before his ministry.

According to the minister, these include Project BRIDGE, which is expected to deploy 90,000 kilometres of open-access fibre infrastructure nationwide; NUCAP, which aims to extend mobile connectivity to underserved and unserved communities through thousands of telecommunications towers; two new communications satellites; a national alphanumeric postcode system; and the Nigeria Web Design Standards initiative.

The announcement drew strong support from several technology professionals, who argued that completing Nigeria’s ongoing digital infrastructure programmes should take precedence over an international appointment.

Peter Clarke described the decision as “commendable,” while Timi Fadeyi said it was the right decision at the present time, stressing that the benefits of democracy and good governance should be felt across Nigeria.

Sanni Michael, however, offered a more measured response. While agreeing that remaining in Nigeria made sense, he said the decision had now created a real test for the minister, given the scale of the projects announced.

He pointed specifically to the 90,000-kilometre fibre target, thousands of new towers, two satellites and the national digital address system, warning that Nigerians had seen ambitious government plans stall in the past.

“Staying home means delivering, not just announcing,” Michael writes, urging the minister to ensure that the projects reach rural communities, improve affordability and reliability, and produce digital services that work for ordinary Nigerians.

He added that the announcement itself should become a basis for accountability, saying stakeholders would now be watching how the projects are implemented.

Olusegun Makinde similarly welcomed the decision, describing it as a difficult but appropriate choice. He argued that the central question surrounding Tijani’s ITU candidacy had been whether he could simultaneously oversee a major domestic programme such as Project BRIDGE and run an international campaign based in Geneva.

According to Makinde, withdrawing from the race removes the risk of divided attention. However, he noted that the decision also means Nigeria will not have the opportunity to secure its first elected ITU official in the current cycle.

Other commentators echoed the argument that domestic execution should come first.

Olayinka Amoo said an international ITU title could not lay a kilometre of fibre or secure a tower site, while Bih Tabot argued that Africa’s global voice in telecommunications would have little impact if the infrastructure needed to support connectivity remained inadequate at home.
Mahmoud Al-Wreikat also supported the decision, arguing that it could allow Tijani to concentrate on Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda while creating an opportunity for Africa to retain an elected position at the ITU.

There were also expressions of disappointment that Tijani had exited the ITU contest. Carlos Baigorri, Chairman and CEO of Brazil’s telecommunications regulator Anatel, congratulated the minister on a campaign he described as having been conducted with conviction, while acknowledging that the race would be interesting without him.

However, not all the reactions accepted Tijani’s explanation at face value.

Muhammed Toha Oyelakin questioned whether the decision was entirely selfless, noting that an international position of such importance would ordinarily enhance a candidate’s influence and professional profile. He said he remained curious about factors behind the decision beyond what had been publicly stated.

The strongest criticism came from Gerald U., who questioned whether remaining in Nigeria would necessarily resolve the implementation challenges facing the minister’s agenda.

He pointed out that the ITU position would have offered Nigeria the prospect of its first elected official in the organisation and questioned the timing of Tijani’s withdrawal, coming close to the contest.

“If delivery at home has been slow for three years with President Bola Tinubu fully present, how does staying home now fix that?” he asked, adding that he believed there could be other factors behind the decision.

Gerald also argued that public explanations should be judged against the available record, rather than accepted without scrutiny.

Another commenter, Tola Soyode, took a different view, dismissing the ITU position as largely ceremonial while pointing to problems with Nigerian government websites and expressing support for Tijani’s focus on the Nigeria Web Design Standards initiative.

Overall, the reaction to Tijani’s withdrawal has been predominantly supportive, with several technology professionals framing the decision as a choice of national delivery over international prestige. At the same time, the dissenting comments suggest that the minister’s decision has raised expectations rather than ended the debate.

With Tijani choosing to remain in government, attention will now shift from the announcement to implementation. His supporters say the decision gives him the focus needed to deliver major digital infrastructure projects, while critics argue that the government must now demonstrate measurable progress to justify the choice.

For Tijani, the ITU opportunity may have been set aside, but the decision has placed a greater spotlight on the projects he says he has chosen to complete at home.