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Nigeria is taking a major step toward strengthening its digital infrastructure with plans to deploy 90,000 kilometres of fibre-optic cable nationwide by 2030 under Project BRIDGE (Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth), an ambitious initiative designed to expand broadband access and accelerate the country’s digital economy.
At the heart of the project is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that will oversee the implementation of the nationwide fibre rollout. Once legally incorporated, the entity will be responsible for raising private investment, coordinating construction across the country’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, and managing one of Nigeria’s largest digital infrastructure projects to date.
SPV to Drive Nationwide Fibre Expansion
Although the incorporation of the SPV marks a key milestone, government officials have clarified that it does not signal the immediate start of construction. Instead, it provides the legal framework needed to begin critical preparatory activities.
Before fibre deployment begins, the project company must complete investor selection, secure financing, finalise engineering designs, conduct route surveys, obtain regulatory approvals and negotiate right-of-way agreements with relevant authorities.
Large-scale construction is expected to commence in 2027, giving the project roughly three and a half years to complete the targeted fibre network by September 2030.
Expanding Nigeria’s Digital Backbone
When completed, Project BRIDGE is expected to increase Nigeria’s national fibre infrastructure from approximately 35,000 kilometres to about 125,000 kilometres, significantly improving broadband availability across the country.
The expanded network is projected to extend connectivity to more than 770 local government areas, while also linking thousands of schools, hospitals and other public institutions to high-speed internet.
Unlike traditional telecom operators, the project is designed as an open-access wholesale network, allowing mobile network operators, internet service providers and enterprise customers to lease capacity on equal terms instead of building separate fibre infrastructure.
$1.6 Billion Financing Package
Project BRIDGE is being financed through a public-private partnership model with support from several international development institutions.
According to project documents, the financing package includes $500 million from the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), alongside $1.1 billion expected from private investors and commercial financing.
Additional support is also expected from the African Development Bank (AfDB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), reflecting growing international confidence in Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.
Private Sector to Hold Majority Stake
The proposed ownership structure places significant control in the hands of private investors.
Under current plans, private investors will own between 51% and 75% of the SPV, while the Federal Government will retain a minority stake of 25% to 49%.
An independent board and private-sector management team are expected to oversee operations, a structure intended to improve commercial efficiency while limiting political interference in project execution.
Ambitious Construction Timeline
Delivering 90,000 kilometres of fibre within the planned timeframe presents a significant engineering challenge.
The rollout strategy calls for approximately 17,500 kilometres of fibre deployment during the first year, followed by 25,000 kilometres annually in both 2028 and 2029, with the remaining 22,500 kilometres scheduled for completion during the final months of 2030.
To meet these targets, the project will be divided into six engineering, procurement and construction zones, enabling multiple contractors to work simultaneously across different parts of the country. At peak execution, installation teams are expected to deploy an average of 80 to 90 kilometres of fibre every day.
Broadband, Digital Inclusion and Economic Growth
Government projections indicate that Project BRIDGE will significantly improve Nigeria’s digital connectivity.
Targets include increasing broadband users from about 92 million to 150 million by 2030, reducing wholesale bandwidth costs by 17%, raising fixed broadband speeds to 50 Mbps, and connecting more than 59,000 public institutions to high-speed internet.
The initiative also includes a digital skills programme aimed at training 37,000 Nigerians, with women expected to account for about 60% of participants, supporting broader goals around digital inclusion and workforce development.
Execution Challenges Remain
Despite its ambitious goals, Project BRIDGE faces several hurdles before full implementation.
The World Bank has classified the programme’s overall risk as substantial, citing governance concerns, procurement complexities, institutional capacity, inflation and foreign exchange volatility as potential obstacles.
Securing right-of-way approvals across states, protecting fibre infrastructure from vandalism and ensuring timely delivery of construction materials are also expected to be among the project’s biggest operational challenges.
Recent industry data underscores those concerns, with telecom operators reporting more than 155,000 fibre cuts during April and May 2026, many of which were attributed to vandalism.
Laying the Foundation for Nigeria’s Digital Future
Project BRIDGE represents one of Nigeria’s most ambitious investments in digital infrastructure and is expected to play a central role in expanding broadband access, reducing connectivity costs and supporting the country’s growing digital economy.
If successfully delivered, the open-access fibre network could help internet service providers and telecom operators extend services to underserved communities while creating the backbone needed for emerging technologies such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, digital finance and e-government services.
As the government moves from planning to execution, the success of the initiative will depend on effective collaboration between public institutions, private investors and industry stakeholders to transform the vision of a connected Nigeria into reality.
