Stakeholders Push for Faster Fibre Optic Rollout in Nigeria

Industry stakeholders have called on the federal government to accelerate the delivery of Project BRIDGE, which aims to establish a 90,000 km national fibre optic cable backbone across Nigeria to ensure uninterrupted internet access for all citizens. The stakeholders emphasized the need for complementary measures to enhance power availability and reliability for digital infrastructure, maintain policy consistency, and support financing structures that lower capital costs in the telecom sector.

They also urged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to continue reforms that improve investment conditions, such as tariff realignment and engagement with states on Right of Way (RoW). The recommendations were made in a communique following the Nigeria Digital Connectivity Investment Forum 2026, organized in Abuja by the NCC in partnership with Swedfund and Ookla, under the theme: ‘Unlocking Infrastructure Investment through Data, Transparency and Partnerships’.

Key attendees included Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, and Dr. Bosun Tijani, representative of the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.