{
  "id": 12997858,
  "title": "FG to deploy 90,000km fibre across Nigeria by 2028 – APC chair",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/fg-to-deploy-90-000km-fibre-across-nigeria-by-2028-apc-chair-12997858",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-09T01:52:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/fg-to-deploy-90000km-fibre-across-nigeria-by-2028-apc-chair/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Federal Government plans to extend 90,000 kilometers of fibre-optic broadband across all 36 states of Nigeria by 2028, as announced by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda. During a virtual executive session with IT industry CEOs, Yilwatda revealed that this Project BRIDGE initiative aims to increase Nigeria's fibre backbone from approximately 35,000 kilometers to 125,000 kilometers. The goal is to connect over 200,000 schools, health facilities, and other public institutions nationwide.\n\nYilwatda emphasized that digital infrastructure is crucial for Nigeria's economic transformation, particularly in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital inclusion. He highlighted that robust and affordable connectivity is vital for achieving these ambitions. According to him, the project is scheduled to commence physical rollout in October 2026, with a reduced delivery period of three years instead of five. Additionally, about $800 million has been secured through sovereign financing, sourced from the World Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, African Development Bank, and a €22 million grant from the European Union.\n\nTo ensure the project's success, Yilwatda stressed the importance of moving beyond policy announcements to actual implementation. He noted that the current fibre infrastructure remains concentrated in major urban centers, with Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory accounting for over 18% of deployed fibre. Penetration of fibre-to-the-home is also low, with only about 265,000 subscribers nationwide. Major challenges include right-of-way charges, multiple permits, and inconsistent regulatory requirements.\n\nYilwatda called for the APC's collaboration with the Progressive Governors' Forum and state chapters to harmonize right-of-way terms and protect telecommunications infrastructure. He also advocated for the protection of fibre-optic infrastructure as critical national information infrastructure, urging better coordination between road construction and telecommunications projects. The APC chair suggested including provisions for telecommunications ducts in road contracts and requiring contractors to identify and protect existing fibre infrastructure before excavation.",
  "summary": "The Federal Government plans to deploy 90,000km of fibre across Nigeria by 2028 under Project BRIDGE to expand broadband connectivity, says APC chair. Read More: https://punchng.com/fg-to-deploy-90000km-fibre-across-nigeria-by-2028-apc-chair/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "FG to deploy 90,000km fibre across Nigeria by 2028 – APC chair",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/fg-to-deploy-90-000km-fibre-across-nigeria-by-2028-apc-chair",
        "published": "2026-10-09T01:52:10.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}