Nigeria Plans Fibre Expansion to Cut Burkina Faso Costs

Nigeria, Africa’s largest telecom market, is pursuing new fibre routes through Niger and Benin to potentially reduce internet connectivity costs in landlocked Burkina Faso by up to 50%. This initiative is part of ongoing discussions between Nigeria and Burkina Faso to enhance digital cooperation.

Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, met with Burkina Faso’s Minister for Digital Transition, Posts and Communication, Aminata Zerbo-Sabané, in Ouagadougou to explore two connectivity corridors: one from Nigeria through Niger to Burkina Faso, and another through Benin. A Technical Working Committee will be established to develop an implementation framework for this partnership.

The initiative aims to provide Burkina Faso, with a population of about 25 million, a more affordable and resilient internet connection. This proposal builds on Nigeria’s Project BRIDGE, which seeks to expand the country’s fibre infrastructure to about 90,000 km across all states and local government areas, ultimately enhancing connectivity beyond Nigeria’s borders.