The Federal Government has disclosed that it will begin the implementation of Project Bridge, its 90,000-kilometre nationwide fibre-optic network project, in October. The announcement provides a clear timeline for the project’s rollout.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, stated this in Abuja on Thursday at the National Innovation Hub Standards Framework Workshop designed to set out plans for major innovation projects nationwide. He said that necessary funding has been secured for Project Bridge’s rollout.
“President Bola Tinubu approved that we must deepen connectivity and we’re investing in 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic network,” the minister said.
The development marks the start of the much-awaited infrastructure project expected to set Nigeria on the path of achieving its $1 trillion economy by 2030, fuelled by the digital economy. It’s tipped to connect millions of Nigerians, especially rural communities and expand broadband connectivity amid increasing demands for high-speed internet.
With almost 2 years since the 90,000km fibre deployment project was announced, it has received over $900 million in financing commitments from international development partners. This includes the World Bank Group, the African Development Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
For Project Bridge’s full deployment, the Federal Government is expected to spend $2 billion, with only close to half of that secured.
Upon completion, Bosun Tijani said the project will be the third or second longest fibre optic network on the African continent and close to the infrastructure in Egypt and South Africa.
“By the time we are done, it’s going to be either the third or second longest fibre optic network on the African continent, somewhere between what we have in South Africa and Egypt. And this is a project that is starting implementation in October. We have raised the funding for it,” he added.
The minister noted that expanding the country’s fibre network is part of a broader strategy to build the foundational infrastructure required for Nigeria’s digital economy. It comes at a time when technology is critical to productivity in sectors ranging from agriculture to healthcare and education.
Also Read: Why Nigeria is extending its $2 billion Project Bridge backbone to Burkina Faso.
Project Bridge, 3,700 telecom towers, digital postcode; all set for October
The announcement puts Project Bridge among initiatives expected to be rolled out before the end of 2026, especially by October.
Weeks ago, the FG said the implementation of the digital postcode project, an initiative that gives every Nigerian building a unique alphanumeric code, will commence by October 1 across the country’s 774 local government areas.
The project will help Nigerians to identify locations with precision across cities, towns, and rural communities. It’s also expected to improve how goods, services, and digital platforms reach Nigerians everywhere.
Another is the deployment of 3,700 telecom towers in rural areas. Like Project Bridge, the initiative seeks to connect underserved Nigerians currently without network coverage. It will aim to bring 20 million Nigerians living in these communities online and push smartphone acquisition as well as internet penetration.
The projects are lined up to advance Nigeria’s economy digitally and usher in an era of improved infrastructure for the next phase of technology advancement.
