Nigeria to begin 90,000km fibre rollout in October, aiming for Africa's second or third longest network

Funding has been secured for this initiative, which is a key component of the government's strategy to expand Nigeria's broadband infrastructure and enhance connectivity in underserved areas. The project, known as Project BRIDGE Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth, aims to extend the country's fibre backbone from approximately 35,000km to about 125,000km through a public-private partnership. This will position Nigeria's fibre optic network as either the second or third longest on the African continent, comparable to those in South Africa and Egypt.

The October start date is earlier than the previously scheduled fourth quarter of 2026. Funding for Project BRIDGE includes $500 million from the World Bank, $100 million from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, a €22 million grant from the European Union, and an additional $200 million from the African Development Bank. This fibre expansion is part of a broader strategy to build foundational digital infrastructure, which also includes deploying nearly 3,700 telecom towers in communities without network coverage and renewing Nigeria’s communications satellite.

These investments are linked to the government's goal of achieving a $1 trillion economy, moving beyond reliance on o