Nigeria is set to register the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that will oversee Project BRIDGE, a flagship initiative aimed at expanding the country’s digital infrastructure through the deployment of at least 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable by 2030. According to the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, the incorporation of the SPV will provide the legal foundation for the project, which is designed to mobilise private investment and coordinate construction across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The open access wholesale network will allow telecommunications operators and internet service providers to share infrastructure rather than build separate fibre networks, reducing costs and expanding broadband access. Backed by $500 million from the World Bank, alongside additional funding from the African Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, BADEA and private investors, the project has a financing envelope of about $1.6 billion. The government expects private investors to hold a majority stake in the SPV, while retaining a minority share.
Under the implementation plan, large scale construction is expected to begin in 2027 after the SPV completes investor selection, engineering designs, route surveys, permits and right of way agreements. The project aims to extend connectivity to more than 770 local government areas, connect over 59,000 public institutions to high speed internet, increase broadband users from about 92 million to 150 million by 2030 and reduce wholesale bandwidth costs.
Despite its ambitious targets, Project BRIDGE faces significant challenges, including securing financing, managing inflation and foreign exchange pressures, obtaining right of way approvals and protecting fibre infrastructure from vandalism. The World Bank has classified the programme as carrying substantial implementation risks, but the government believes successful execution will strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy by improving connectivity, lowering internet costs and supporting nationwide digital inclusion.