Nigeria Power Fiber Optic Cable Fittings Project

Project BRIDGE is Nigeria's $2 billion initiative to deploy 90,000 km of fibre optic cables nationwide, creating a national broadband backbone and boosting digital connectivity.

Overview and Objectives

Project BRIDGE, officially titled Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth, is a flagship initiative by the Nigerian government to expand the country's fibre optic network from 35,000 km to a total of 125,000 km, making it the third-largest in Africa after Egypt and South Africa . The project aims to:

• Provide high-speed, reliable internet to all 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs), schools, hospitals, and underserved communities .
• Increase internet penetration to over 70%, with a focus on rural and underserved populations .
• Support Nigeria's digital economy, potentially raising GDP by 1.5% per capita within four years .
• Create 20,000 direct jobs and over 150,000 indirect jobs, while training 5,000 youths through the Digital Bridge Institute .

Implementation and Funding

The project is executed through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) under a public-private partnership (PPP) model . Key details include:

• Funding: $2 billion, sourced from a combination of sovereign loans from development finance institutions (DFIs) like the World Bank and African Development Bank, and private sector equity .
• Government stake: Minority shareholding between 25% and 49% .
• Management: The SPV operates as a limited liability company with an independent board and experienced management team .

Technical Design and Network Architecture

Project BRIDGE features a comprehensive fibre network:

• Seven regional backbone rings connecting Nigeria's six geopolitical zones and Lagos, ensuring redundancy and low latency .
• 37 metropolitan networks linking all 774 LGAs via Points of Presence (PoPs), supporting both large and small Internet Service Providers (ISPs), .
• Open-access model to foster competition and infrastructure sharing, reducing dependency on dominant mobile network operators .

Local Fibre Production and Supply Chain

A significant development is the establishment of Coleman Technical Industries' fibre optic factory in Sagamu, Ogun State, billed as Africa's largest . This local production:

• Reduces reliance on imported cables, lowering costs and foreign exchange pressures .
• Signals Nigeria's capability to build its own digital backbone, enhancing investor confidence .
• Complements efficient procurement, right-of-way processes, and reliable energy supply to ensure timely deployment .

Expected Impact

Project BRIDGE is projected to:

• Provide internet access to over 33 million previously offline Nigerians .
• Connect over 200,000 educational, healthcare, and social institutions, bridging the digital divide .
• Stimulate innovation and digital entrepreneurship, supporting long-term economic growth .
• Strengthen Nigeria's digital infrastructure independence, reducing reliance on foreign technology .

Timeline

The project was conceived in 2025 and is scheduled for delivery in Q1 2026, with ongoing coordination among government agencies, private sector partners, and development institutions . Workshops and stakeholder engagements have been conducted nationwide to align strategies and ensure inclusive access .

Project BRIDGE represents a transformative step in Nigeria's digital infrastructure, combining local manufacturing, strategic PPP funding, and nationwide fibre deployment to accelerate broadband access, economic growth, and digital inclusion.