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

The Federal Government of Nigeria will commence the implementation of a 90,000-kilometre nationwide fibre-optic network project in October, as announced by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani. The funding for this significant project, which is part of the government's plan to expand Nigeria's broadband backbone and enhance connectivity in underserved communities, has been secured.

Tijani disclosed this during a workshop at the National Innovation Hub Standards Framework in Abuja. The project, known as Project BRIDGE, aims to deploy at least 90,000km of additional fibre across Nigeria, increasing the country's fibre backbone from around 35,000km to approximately 125,000km. The expansion of fibre is part of a broader strategy to build the foundational infrastructure necessary for Nigeria's digital economy, encompassing sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and education.

The project also includes the deployment of nearly 3,700 telecom towers to communities currently without network coverage, addressing the issue of 20 million people lacking access to telecommunications. This initiative is viewed as crucial in Nigeria's ambition to build a $1tn economy, as relying solely on oil and gas is insufficient for long-term growth.