Nigeria Reveals Technical Plan for Project Bridge, Nation's most Ambitious Fiber Optic Infrastructure Endeavor
Nigeria has embarked on a major digital transformation with the launch of Project Bridge, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at expanding the country's fibre optic network and bridging the digital divide.
Unveiled in 2025, Project Bridge seeks to extend Nigeria's fibre optic backbone by an impressive 90,000 km, making it the third-largest fibre backbone in Africa after Egypt and South Africa. With a total investment of $2 billion, the project aims to enhance internet access, improve broadband penetration, and stimulate economic growth by creating an extensive and resilient national fibre optic network.
The goals of Project Bridge are far-reaching. It aims to link the six geopolitical zones through seven regional fibre rings, supported by 37 metropolitan networks covering all 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs). The initiative also targets increasing broadband penetration from the current levels to 70% by 2025 nationally and 80% in underserved regions by 2027.
To ensure local distribution of internet connections, Project Bridge plans to establish Points of Presence (PoPs) at every LGA, particularly focusing on key public institutions such as schools and health centers. Furthermore, ward-level nodes, functioning as mini Points of Presence, will enable further last-mile distribution.
The project will serve both large and small Internet Service Providers (ISPs), fostering competition in the broadband sector and reducing the dominance of mobile network operators. To facilitate this, a public-private partnership (PPP) financing model will be employed, with the government holding a 25-49% stake and the rest funded by private investors and international development finance institutions like the World Bank and African Development Bank.
The expanded fibre network is expected to reduce latency, improve network redundancy, and enable faster and more reliable broadband services nationwide. By connecting underserved and rural areas systematically, Project Bridge aims to bridge the digital divide, enabling greater digital inclusion and access to e-government, education, healthcare, and commerce.
Enhanced broadband connectivity is anticipated to stimulate economic activities, innovation, and digital transformation across sectors, contributing to GDP growth. The initiative is expected to reduce market concentration by enabling more ISPs to enter and compete, improving service affordability and quality for Nigerian consumers.
The significant infrastructure investment and implementation of Points of Presence are expected to create jobs and boost ancillary sectors like digital services and telecoms. In summary, Project Bridge represents a transformative $2 billion investment to revolutionize Nigeria’s digital landscape by massively expanding fibre infrastructure, increasing internet penetration, promoting competition, and driving inclusive economic growth through improved digital connectivity.
The project, named Project Bridge, is the largest digital infrastructure project in Nigeria's history. Dr. 'Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Nigeria, called on stakeholders to contribute feedback on the rollout process. This marks a major step forward in building a truly inclusive and future-ready digital economy for all Nigerians. The final phase of the project will connect homes, businesses, and institutions using fibre or other access technologies, ensuring that broadband access becomes a reality for millions more Nigerians.
- The extended fibre optic network from Project Bridge, aiming to encompass 70% national and 80% regional broadband penetration, will enhance access to data-and-cloud-computing services, promoting efficient technology adoption in sectors like education and healthcare.
- With PoPs to be established at schools and health centers, Project Bridge will foster data accessibility for educational resources and telemedicine services, thereby improving overall quality of infrastructure in these essential sectors.
- By stimulating competition among internet service providers through a public-private partnership, the technology-led Project Bridge will foster advancements in healthcare, education, and infrastructure, transforming Nigeria into a digitally competitive environment.
