The Federal Government has announced that the physical implementation of Nigeria’s massive 90,000-kilometre nationwide fibre-optic network rollout will officially kick off in October. The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, disclosed this during the National Innovation Hub Standards Framework Workshop in Abuja.
The announcement comes on the heels of the government incorporating Bridge Open Access (Bridge OA), an independent Special Purpose Vehicle established under Project BRIDGE to execute and manage the infrastructure backbone. Confirming that necessary funding has been secured, the Minister noted that President Bola Tinubu approved the project to aggressively deepen broadband penetration across the country.
“By the time we are done, it’s going to be either the third or second longest fibre-optic network on the African continent, somewhere between what we have in South Africa and Egypt. And this is a project that is starting implementation in October. We have raised the funding for it,” the Minister said.
To ensure comprehensive coverage, Tijani explained that the infrastructure strategy combines terrestrial fiber, mobile towers, and satellite technology. While presidential approval includes installing telecom towers in underserved locations, the government will deploy satellite connectivity in hard-to-reach or terrain-impracticable areas to guarantee network access for over 20 million currently unserved citizens.
Tijani emphasized that expanding digital connectivity remains a fundamental pillar for national economic growth. He highlighted that digital technologies, tech startups, and supporting businesses are driving a vibrant multi-million-dollar ecosystem that requires robust, high-speed infrastructure to sustain its trajectory.