Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is on course to complete its ambitious Project Bridge, a nationwide fibre-optic expansion initiative, by the first quarter of 2026.
The project, launched earlier this year, plans to deploy an additional 90,000km of fibre optic cables over five years to establish an open-access broadband backbone across the country.
The network aims to connect all 774 local government areas, along with public institutions and underserved communities, to enhance digital connectivity nationwide. NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, explained that the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Economy is overseeing the initiative after securing presidential approval for a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) responsible for supervising the rollout.
Nigeria currently has roughly 35,000km of fibre infrastructure, which officials deem inadequate for comprehensive internet access across the country. To address this gap, Inuwa highlighted that Project Bridge will be executed through a collaborative effort involving government agencies, private sector operators, and development partners. Stakeholder workshops have been organised across Nigeria to coordinate deployment strategies and ensure smooth progress.
Inuwa emphasised that the project is vital to the government’s broader goal of boosting digital connectivity and fostering economic growth. He noted that expanding fibre coverage will improve services across key sectors and help strengthen Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
