Nigeria is set to transform its digital landscape with the unveiling of Project Bridge, an ambitious plan to lay down a 90,000-kilometer fiber optic network across the country.
This project aims to connect every region, state, Local Government Area, and ward, radically improving internet access and digital infrastructure nationwide.
Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, revealed the high-level design blueprint during a recent Lagos event, marking a historic step toward expanding Nigeria’s digital economy.
Project bridge: building a nationwide digital backbone
Project Bridge is designed to be Nigeria’s largest-ever digital infrastructure initiative. It will expand the national fiber optic network by adding 90,000km to the existing 35,000km, creating an open-access, wholesale infrastructure accessible to internet service providers (ISPs), large and small.
Dr. Tijani described the project as more than just a buildout, calling it a mission “to build the digital backbone that unlocks opportunity, drives productivity, and transforms our economy from the ground up”.
The network blueprint includes seven regional backbone rings connecting Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and Lagos.
These rings will create a resilient 125,000km fiber framework that minimises latency and enhances data flow.
The extensive design further extends connectivity to the ward level, targeting schools and healthcare centers, thus ensuring that rural and remote communities also gain broadband access.
Funding and Implementation Strategy
Implemented under a public-private partnership (PPP) model via a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), the Federal Government will hold a minority stake in the project while attracting investment from development finance institutions and private investors.
Efforts to secure funding are ongoing, with Dr. Tijani recently engaging the Kuwait Fund to attract development finance for the rollout.
The buildout is aligned along existing transport and energy corridors to ease deployment costs and enhance the climate resilience of the infrastructure.
Alongside the fiber rollout, the plan includes local fiber production, skills training, and job creation to boost Nigeria’s digital workforce and economy.
The government projects that the $2 billion investment in this fiber network will help increase broadband penetration to 90 per cent by 2025, fostering economic growth through improved digital connectivity.
Driving digital Inclusion and economic growth
Project Bridge is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to expand Nigeria’s digital economy.
The initiative complements other digital policies, such as the 3 Million Technical Talent program, which trains Nigerians in digital skills, enhancing the workforce to leverage the new infrastructure.
Dr. Tijani highlighted that increasing connectivity hubs by just 10 percent could boost Nigeria’s GDP by 2.5 percent.
The project also supports innovation, with Nigeria developing AI readiness, which is ranked among the top 60 globally, and launching platforms for AI collaboration. By connecting underserved populations and enabling healthy ISP competition, Project Bridge aims to bridge the digital divide and position Nigeria as a leading African digital economy.
This bold rollout signals a new era for Nigeria. Enhanced fiber infrastructure will pave the way for equitable, high-quality internet access nationwide, powering socio-economic transformation for millions of Nigerians.
The project’s comprehensive design and collaborative approach reflect a strong commitment to digital progress and inclusion.