The Federal Government has secured about $800 million in sovereign financing for its digital initiative, which is set to deploy over 90,000 kilometres of open access fibre across the 36 states of the federation by 2028.
Once completed, the project will lift Nigeriaโs combined backbone from about 35,000 kilometres to around 125,000 kilometres and connect more than 200,000 schools, health facilities and other public institutions.
The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, disclosed this during a virtual executive session with Chief Executive Officers of the information technology industry.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, Professor Yilwatda described digital infrastructure as fundamental to Nigeriaโs economic transformation.
He said the countryโs ambitions in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, digital inclusion and a technology driven economy could not be achieved without robust and affordable connectivity.
Professor Yilwatda said the $800 million comprises $500 million from the World Bank, $100 million from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and $200 million from the African Development Bank. The European Union has also provided a โฌ22 million grant.
He described the Federal Governmentโs Project BRIDGE as one of the most significant infrastructure interventions in Nigeriaโs digital space. According to him, the government incorporated Bridge Open Access in August as an independent company to deliver the network.
Through the Ministry of Finance Incorporated, the government is expected to hold between 25 and 49 per cent of the company, while private investors will hold between 51 and 75 per cent and retain operational control.
He said the structure was deliberately designed so that the government provides de-risking and strategic support, while the private sector brings operational discipline, investment and efficiency.
Physical rollout is scheduled to begin in October 2026, with the delivery period reduced from five years to three and completion now targeted for 2028.
โWhen completed, the project is expected to take Nigeriaโs combined backbone from about 35,000 kilometres to around 125,000 kilometres and connect more than 200,000 schools, health facilities and other public institutions,โ he said.
The National Chairman cautioned that the success of the initiative would depend on moving beyond policy announcements to actual implementation.
โAnnouncements do not lay cable,โ he said, stressing that about $1.2 billion is still required from private capital to complete the financing needs of the project.
He added that fibre deployment alone would not automatically translate into digital inclusion without complementary investments in electricity, affordable devices, affordable data services, towers, backhaul infrastructure and last mile connectivity.
Professor Yilwatda observed that fibre infrastructure remains heavily concentrated in major urban centres, with Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory accounting for more than 18 per cent of deployed fibre. Fibre to the home penetration, he noted, remains relatively low, with approximately 265,000 subscribers nationwide.
He therefore called for stronger collaboration between political leadership, governments at all levels and the private sector to remove the obstacles slowing down digital infrastructure development.
The National Chairman identified right of way charges and inconsistent regulatory requirements as major impediments confronting telecommunications operators.
He said operators continue to face varying charges, multiple permits and, in some instances, the destruction of already installed infrastructure by state and local government authorities.
According to him, the APC, as the governing party at the federal level and in many states, has a unique political platform that can be used to address the challenge.
He announced that the APC National Secretariat would work with the Progressive Governorsโ Forum and APC state chapters to promote harmonised and cost reflective right of way terms, as well as practical measures to protect telecommunications infrastructure in APC governed states.
He extended the invitation to governors elected on the platforms of other political parties, stressing that digital infrastructure is a national development issue that should rise above partisan politics.
โInfrastructure has no party. Our objective should be to create an environment in which every Nigerian, regardless of political affiliation or location, can benefit from the digital economy,โ he said.
Professor Yilwatda called for fibre optic infrastructure to be protected as Critical National Information Infrastructure, noting that vandalism and accidental damage to cables could undermine major public and private investments in digital connectivity.
He also advocated stronger coordination between road construction and telecommunications infrastructure development, observing that a significant number of fibre cuts are caused by road construction, excavation and other civil works.
He described the situation as a coordination failure that could be prevented through better planning.
He commended the Federal Ministries of Works and of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy for inaugurating a Standing Committee on the Protection of Fibre Optic Cables but urged that the initiative be extended to states and local governments.
He proposed that every federal and state road contract should include provisions for telecommunications ducts and require contractors to identify and protect existing fibre infrastructure before excavation.
โBuilding a road and destroying a broadband link in the same month is not development. It is a waste,โ he said.
He added that the APC would use its political structures to encourage greater coordination between state governments, local authorities, road contractors and telecommunications operators.
On the future of artificial intelligence, cloud computing and data centres, Professor Yilwatda said the next decade would be defined significantly by the rapid development and application of AI.
He said Nigeria must decide to be an active participant and beneficiary of the AI revolution rather than merely a consumer of technologies developed elsewhere.
โThe question for Nigeria is not whether AI will shape our economy. It will. The question is whether we will shape it, or simply rent it,โ he said.
He noted that Nigeria already has a National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, while the Federal Government has also unveiled the National Digital Cloud Policy, designed to attract approximately $750 million in private investment into cloud and data infrastructure within 24 months, with $250 million targeted within the first year.
He said the government and industry are also working to expand Nigeriaโs data centre capacity from approximately 50 megawatts to 200 megawatts of IT load over the next five years.
Professor Yilwatda described these targets as ambitious and necessary but stressed that achieving them would require parallel investment in energy infrastructure.
He explained that data centres and AI infrastructure are highly energy intensive, and that Nigeriaโs digital ambitions cannot be separated from its power sector reforms.
โAn AI strategy without an energy strategy is incomplete,โ he said, advocating that digital infrastructure be prioritised in the countryโs power sector planning.
He also called for greater use of embedded generation, renewable power purchase arrangements and reliable gas supply to digital infrastructure clusters.
The National Chairman also addressed data sovereignty and the participation of local and international technology companies in Nigeriaโs digital economy.
He expressed support for the Federal Governmentโs policy direction favouring certified local providers in public procurement where appropriate, noting that strengthening domestic capacity and ensuring that critical data is adequately protected are legitimate national objectives.
He warned, however, against allowing digital sovereignty to become protectionism that could increase costs, discourage investment or prevent Nigeria from accessing global expertise and technology.
