Nigeria's Project BRIDGE: Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth
Nigeria's "Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth (BRIDGE)" initiative is a highly ambitious and transformative project aimed at significantly expanding the country's digital connectivity. This landmark project, partly funded by the World Bank, seeks to establish a robust and extensive fiber optic network across the nation, positioning Nigeria as a leading digital economy in Africa.
Core Objective
The primary goal of Project BRIDGE is to deploy an impressive 90,000 kilometers of new fiber optic cable across Nigeria. This will serve as the nation's core connectivity infrastructure, dramatically expanding broadband access to both urban and rural areas. The initiative aims to increase Nigeria's total fiber optic cable capacity from its current estimated 35,000 km to a substantial 125,000 km, making it one of the largest terrestrial fiber optic backbones on the African continent.
Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Model
Structure: The project is being implemented through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, involving the Federal Government of Nigeria and private sector investors. A dedicated Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) company will be established to manage and operate the network.
Government Stake: The Nigerian government intends to hold a minority stake in the SPV, specifically not less than 25% but capped at 49%. This ensures that the private sector will hold the majority stake (51% or more) and manage the operation independently, fostering efficiency and innovation.
Financial Model: The project is designed to be self-financing and commercially viable. Nigeria's Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, has stated that users of the infrastructure will pay for its services, effectively eliminating public debt risks and ensuring long-term sustainability. The total cost of implementation is estimated at approximately $2 billion.
Funding and Investment
World Bank and DFIs: The World Bank is a major partner, providing significant financial backing and technical assistance. Other Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) such as the African Development Bank (AfDB), Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), and the European Union (EU) are also contributing. Over $845 million in funding commitments have already been secured from these leading DFIs, demonstrating strong international confidence in the project's viability.
Private Sector Investment: The government is actively inviting private sector investors to participate, recognizing that their funding will constitute a crucial 51% or more of the total investment. The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy has issued Expressions of Interest for Transaction Advisory consulting services to support the successful procurement of these private sector investors.
Key Features and Benefits
Enhanced Connectivity and Access: The project aims to provide universal access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) across the country, bridging existing connectivity gaps, particularly in underserved and rural areas. This will lead to substantial improvements in internet speed and reliability for millions.
Economic Growth: Improved digital access is expected to significantly boost Nigeria's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Studies suggest that a 10% improvement in broadband quality can increase GDP by 1.35 percentage points. The project will foster innovation, e-commerce, and digital services across various sectors.
Digital Inclusion: By connecting millions of households, businesses, schools, and hospitals, the initiative will promote inclusion, boost access to education, financial services, and drive digital literacy, particularly for the 33 million Nigerians currently offline.
Job Creation: The ambitious scale of the project is expected to create numerous jobs, both directly in the construction and operation of the network, and indirectly through the expansive growth of the digital economy.
Comprehensive Coverage: The network is designed with interconnected regional rings across all six geopolitical zones and individual states, ensuring comprehensive coverage and strategically building upon existing infrastructure.
Timeline: The design phase of the project has been finalized, with route maps expected to be publicly released within the next one to two months. Construction is slated to begin by the fourth quarter of 2025 and is anticipated to take between three to five years to complete.
Current Status (as of July 31, 2025)
The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy is actively engaging potential private investors and currently seeking a Transaction Advisor. Expressions of Interest for this advisory role are due by August 14, 2025. This indicates that the project is moving forward with critical preparatory stages before the commencement of physical infrastructure deployment.
I'm Aisha shehu
Talksocialtalka News
