FG Targets 90,000km Fibre Rollout to Boost Digital Economy Nationwide

 FG Targets 90,000km Fibre Rollout to Boost Digital Economy Nationwide

Nigeria’s drive toward a fully digitised economy is set to receive a major boost as the Federal Government plans to deploy an additional 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable across the country under its flagship BRIDGE initiative.

The project, known as Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth (BRIDGE), is being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to significantly expand broadband access and strengthen connectivity across all 774 local government areas.

Industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has described the initiative as critical to accelerating Nigeria’s digital transformation and unlocking new economic opportunities.

Speaking at a strategic fibre optics training workshop in Abuja, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Aminu Maida, said the expansion underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening digital infrastructure nationwide. Represented by the Executive Commissioner for Technical Services, Abraham Oshadami, Maida noted that fibre networks remain the backbone of modern economies.

He explained that the 90,000km rollout is aimed not only at improving internet access but also at driving growth in key sectors such as education, healthcare, agriculture and governance, while enhancing financial inclusion across urban and rural communities.

Despite the ambitious plan, the commission identified several challenges hindering broadband penetration, including high Right of Way (RoW) charges, regulatory bottlenecks at state levels, and persistent cases of telecom infrastructure vandalism.

To address these issues, the NCC said it has strengthened collaboration with state governments, security agencies and other stakeholders. It revealed that at least 13 states have already waived RoW charges, a development expected to attract further investment from telecom operators.

Efforts to safeguard telecom assets have also been reinforced following a 2024 presidential directive designating such infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), providing stronger legal protection against vandalism and theft.

The commission further stressed the need for capacity building, noting that a skilled workforce is essential for sustaining the country’s digital ambitions.

The Abuja workshop, organised by the International Telecommunication Union in partnership with the Digital Bridge Institute and supported by the European Union, is part of ongoing efforts to enhance technical and regulatory expertise within the sector.

Representing the EU, Inga Stefanowicz disclosed that the bloc’s €820 million digital economy package, launched in 2022, is targeted at boosting infrastructure development, innovation and digital skills across Africa.

She emphasised that bridging Africa’s infrastructure gap would require stronger collaboration between governments and private sector players, as public funding alone remains insufficient.

With the BRIDGE project gaining traction, stakeholders say Nigeria may be on the verge of one of its most extensive broadband expansions yet—an effort expected to redefine connectivity and position the country more competitively in the global digital economy.