The Federal Government plans to expand Nigeria’s fibre-optic network to approximately 125,000 kilometres by 2028, a move expected to improve internet connectivity and support the country’s ambitions in artificial intelligence, cloud computing and digital services.
National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, disclosed the plan on Wednesday during a virtual executive session with chief executive officers in the information technology industry.
He said the government intends to deploy more than 90,000 kilometres of open-access fibre infrastructure across all 36 states through a project known as Project BRIDGE.
The initiative is expected to increase Nigeria’s existing fibre backbone from approximately 35,000 kilometres to 125,000 kilometres when completed.
According to Yilwatda, the network will also provide connectivity to more than 200,000 schools, healthcare facilities and other public institutions nationwide.
He described digital infrastructure as essential to Nigeria’s economic transformation, particularly as the country seeks to expand digital inclusion and develop its capacity in emerging technologies.
Project BRIDGE Secures $800 Million in Financing
Yilwatda said the Federal Government incorporated Bridge Open Access as an independent company in August to oversee the delivery of the infrastructure project.
Under the proposed ownership arrangement, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Finance Incorporated, will hold between 25 and 49 per cent of the company, while private investors will own between 51 and 75 per cent and retain operational control.
He explained that the structure was designed to provide government backing and reduce investment risks while allowing private-sector investors to bring in capital and operational expertise.
The APC chairman said approximately $800 million in sovereign financing had already been secured for the project.
The funding comprises $500 million from the World Bank, $100 million from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and $200 million from the African Development Bank (AfDB).
The project has also received a €22 million grant from the European Union.
Physical deployment is scheduled to begin in October 2026, with the implementation period shortened from five years to three years and completion targeted for 2028.
However, Yilwatda stressed that the secured funding would not cover the project’s entire financing needs, noting that an additional $1.2 billion in private investment was still required.
“Announcements do not lay cable,” he said, emphasising the need to move from commitments to actual implementation.
He added that expanding fibre infrastructure alone would not solve Nigeria’s connectivity challenges. Electricity supply, affordable digital devices, data services, telecommunications towers, backhaul infrastructure and last-mile connections would also require investment.
Lagos and FCT Account for Significant Fibre Deployment
Yilwatda raised concerns about the uneven distribution of fibre-optic infrastructure across Nigeria, noting that much of the existing network remains concentrated in major urban centres.
He said Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory account for more than 18 per cent of deployed fibre infrastructure.
The APC chairman also pointed to the low adoption of fibre-to-the-home services, revealing that the country has approximately 265,000 subscribers nationwide.
According to him, extending fibre connectivity beyond major cities would be important for ensuring that businesses, schools, healthcare facilities and households across the country can benefit from the digital economy.
APC Moves to Address Barriers Facing Telecom Operators
The APC chairman identified inconsistent regulations, multiple permits and right-of-way charges as major obstacles to telecommunications infrastructure development.
He said operators often face different charges and approval requirements across states, while installed infrastructure is sometimes damaged or destroyed by state and local government authorities.
Yilwatda said the APC could use its influence at the federal and state levels to help address these challenges.
He disclosed that the party’s national secretariat would work with the Progressive Governors’ Forum and APC state chapters to promote harmonised, cost-reflective right-of-way charges and stronger protection for telecommunications infrastructure.
He also invited governors from other political parties to support the initiative, arguing that digital connectivity should not be treated as a partisan issue.
“Infrastructure has no party. Our objective should be to create an environment in which every Nigerian, regardless of political affiliation or location, can benefit from the digital economy,” he said.
Yilwatda further called for fibre-optic infrastructure to be recognised and protected as critical national information infrastructure, citing vandalism and accidental damage as threats to investments in connectivity.
Government Urged to Protect Fibre During Road Construction
The APC chairman said poor coordination between road construction and telecommunications projects was contributing to frequent damage to fibre-optic cables.
He described the situation as a coordination failure, noting that excavation and other civil engineering activities often cut existing telecommunications links.
Yilwatda commended the federal ministries responsible for works and communications, innovation and digital economy for establishing a standing committee on the protection of fibre-optic cables.
He recommended extending the arrangement to state and local governments to improve coordination across all levels of administration.
He also proposed that federal and state road contracts should include provisions for telecommunications ducts and require contractors to identify and protect existing fibre infrastructure before excavation begins.
“Building a road and destroying a broadband link in the same month is not development. It is waste,” he said.
Nigeria Targets Growth in AI and Data-Centre Capacity
Beyond broadband connectivity, Yilwatda said Nigeria must prepare for the growing influence of artificial intelligence, cloud computing and data centres by developing the infrastructure needed to support these technologies.
He argued that Nigeria should aim to shape the global AI revolution rather than depend entirely on technologies developed elsewhere.
“The question for Nigeria is not whether AI will shape our economy. It will. The question is whether we will shape it, or simply rent it,” he said.
He noted that the Federal Government had already introduced a national artificial intelligence strategy and unveiled a national digital cloud policy.
According to Yilwatda, the cloud policy is designed to attract approximately $750 million in private investment into cloud and data infrastructure over 24 months, with $250 million targeted in the first year.
The government and industry are also working towards expanding Nigeria’s data-centre capacity from approximately 50 megawatts to 200 megawatts of IT load over the next five years.
Yilwatda described the targets as ambitious but necessary, warning that the expansion would require substantial improvements in energy infrastructure.
“An AI strategy without an energy strategy is incomplete,” he said.
He advocated embedded power generation, renewable energy purchase agreements and reliable gas supplies for clusters of digital infrastructure.
Yilwatda Backs Local Digital Capacity but Warns Against Protectionism
The APC chairman also expressed support for the Federal Government’s policy direction favouring certified local providers in public procurement where appropriate.
He said developing domestic expertise and protecting critical national data were legitimate objectives for Nigeria.
However, he cautioned against turning digital sovereignty into protectionism that could raise costs, discourage investors or prevent the country from accessing international expertise and technology.
He maintained that Nigeria’s digital ambitions would depend on balancing the development of local capacity with access to global innovation and investment.
Source: Supplied report
