FG to begin 90,000km fibre rollout in October – Minister

The Federal Government plans to commence construction on a 90,000-kilometre nationwide fibre-optic network in October, according to Communications Minister Bosun Tijani. The project, known as Project BRIDGE or Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth, aims to improve connectivity across Nigeria and place the country among the top three or two longest fibre optic networks in Africa.

Tijani stated that the government has secured funding for the project, which will expand the existing fibre backbone from approximately 35,000km to roughly 125,000km. The expansion is part of a broader strategy to build the foundational infrastructure necessary for Nigeria's digital economy, covering infrastructure, digital platforms, and innovators and businesses that build services on the infrastructure.

The minister also announced plans to deploy close to 3,700 telecom towers to communities lacking network coverage, covering over 20 million people. The project has received funding from various development partners, including the World Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the African Development Bank.