Nigeria’s ambitious 90,000-kilometre national fibre optic project has received a major boost with the approval of a $200 million loan from the African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
The loan, announced over the weekend, will support the faster rollout of ‘Project Bridge’ (D-VIBE), which aims to significantly expand the country’s digital infrastructure, boost broadband access, develop digital skills, and create jobs nationwide.
The project will expand Nigeria’s current fibre backbone from approximately 30,000 kilometres to about 120,000 kilometres by the end of 2027.
Once completed, it is expected to connect all 774 local government areas across the country with high-speed broadband.
The $200 million AfDB facility forms part of an $800 million sovereign financing package that includes $500 million from the World Bank and $100 million from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
According to the AfDB, the total project cost is estimated at $2 billion. This includes an EU grant of €22 million, a $2.6 million project preparation grant, and over $1.2 billion expected from private sector investment.
Commenting on the approval, Director General of the AfDB Nigeria Office, Abdul Kamara, said:“Nigeria has the talent, the market, and the ambition; what it has lacked is the backbone infrastructure to connect that potential to opportunity.
"D-VIBE changes that. From the north to the south, from farms to factories to classrooms, this investment will make high-speed connectivity a reality for every Nigerian community.”
Expected ImpactThe project is projected to create up to 2.8 million jobs over its lifecycle and increase national broadband penetration from 45% to around 70% by 2030.
It will also establish cross-border fibre links with neighbouring countries including Benin, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad.
In addition to infrastructure deployment, the initiative will tackle demand-side challenges through affordable device programmes, large-scale digital skills training, support for digital platforms in key sectors, cybersecurity measures, and the adoption of renewable energy solutions for network resilience.
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