Federal Government Seeks $1.2bn for Fibre Network Project

The Federal Government is targeting approximately $1.2bn in private capital for its planned 90,000-kilometre nationwide fibre network, with physical deployment expected to begin in October. This follows the establishment of Bridge Open Access in August as the special-purpose vehicle for the project.

Official records indicate that $800m of the estimated $2bn project cost has been secured through sovereign financing commitments, including a $500m loan from the World Bank approved in October 2025, a $100m loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development approved in February 2026, and a $200m loan from the African Development Bank approved in April. The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, confirmed the October rollout, while Strategic Communications Adviser Osibo Imhoitsike noted significant private sector investment offers as part of the public-private partnership structure.

The project aims to expand the national network from 35,000km to roughly 125,000km.