ABUJA, Aug 5 – Nigeria’s plan to expand its digital infrastructure is waiting on the formal registration of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that will oversee Project BRIDGE, one of the country’s biggest fibre optic projects.
According to the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, the SPV is expected to provide the legal structure needed to drive the project. Once incorporated, it will lead investor mobilisation, coordinate construction across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, and oversee the rollout of at least 90,000 kilometres of climate-resilient fibre optic cables by September 2030.
Before construction begins, the company will need to complete investor selection, secure financing, finalise engineering designs, carry out route surveys and obtain the required permits. Physical construction is expected to start in 2027.
If completed as planned, Project BRIDGE will expand Nigeria’s national fibre backbone to about 120,000 kilometres, extend broadband access to more than 770 local government areas and connect thousands of schools, hospitals and other public institutions.
The project will operate as an open-access wholesale network, allowing mobile operators, internet service providers and enterprise customers to use the infrastructure on equal terms.
Funding includes $500 million from the World Bank’s International Development Association, alongside $1.1 billion expected from private and commercial investors. The African Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and BADEA are also providing financing.
However, the World Bank has identified governance, procurement, institutional capacity, inflation and foreign exchange pressures as key risks. The report also noted that right-of-way approvals and the growing number of fibre cable cuts could affect delivery.
Despite those challenges, the government expects the project to increase broadband users to about 150 million by 2030, lower wholesale bandwidth costs and improve internet access across the country.
