The Federal Government of Nigeria is embarking on an ambitious initiative to deploy 90,000 kilometres of open-access fibre across all 36 states by 2028. This initiative, known as Project BRIDGE, aims to significantly enhance broadband connectivity throughout the nation. The announcement was made by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, during a recent virtual meeting with leaders in the information technology sector.

Upon completion, Project BRIDGE is expected to increase Nigeria's fibre backbone from approximately 35,000 kilometres to 125,000 kilometres, connecting over 200,000 schools, health facilities, and other public institutions. Yilwatda emphasized the importance of digital infrastructure in transforming Nigeria's economy, stating that ambitions in areas such as artificial intelligence and cloud computing hinge on robust and affordable internet connectivity.

The physical rollout of the project is set to commence in October 2026, with a reduced implementation timeline of three years instead of the originally planned five. The government has already secured about $800 million in funding, which includes contributions from various international financial institutions: $500 million from the World Bank, $100 million from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and $200 million from the African Development Bank, along with a €22 million grant from the European Union.

Yilwatda noted that the Federal Government has established Bridge Open Access as an independent company to oversee the delivery of the network, with the government expected to hold between 25% and 49% of the company, while private investors will control the remaining 51% to 75%. This structure is intended to ensure that the government provides necessary support while the private sector brings operational efficiency and investment.

However, Yilwatda cautioned that the success of Project BRIDGE relies on actual implementation rather than mere announcements. He highlighted that $1.2 billion in additional private capital is still needed to fully finance the project. Furthermore, he pointed out that simply deploying fibre infrastructure will not guarantee digital inclusion unless there are complementary investments in electricity, affordable devices, data services, and last-mile connectivity.

Currently, fibre deployment is heavily concentrated in urban areas, with Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory accounting for over 18% of the total installed fibre. Despite this, the penetration of fibre-to-the-home remains low, with only about 265,000 subscribers across the country. Yilwatda identified various challenges facing telecommunications operators, including high right-of-way charges and inconsistent regulatory requirements, and expressed the APC's commitment to working with state governments to streamline these issues.

In addition, he called for the protection of fibre-optic infrastructure as critical national information infrastructure, warning that vandalism and damage from construction activities could jeopardize investments in digital connectivity. He proposed that road construction contracts should include provisions for telecommunications ducts and emphasize the need for coordination between roadworks and telecom projects.

As Nigeria prepares for the future, Yilwatda underscored the necessity of becoming a significant player in the artificial intelligence sector, rather than merely consuming technology developed elsewhere. He reiterated that the country has a National Artificial Intelligence Strategy in place, along with a National Digital Cloud Policy aimed at attracting approximately $750 million in private investment into cloud and data infrastructure within the next two years.

Project BRIDGE is a crucial step towards bridging the digital divide in Nigeria, ensuring that underserved communities gain access to reliable internet and digital services, thereby fostering economic growth and technological advancement.