Nigeria is laying the groundwork for a digital revolution with the unveiling of Project Bridge hoped to deliver a combined 125,000-kilometre national fibre backbone network delivering high-speed internet access to every corner of the country, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, says.
The Minister, who unveiled the high-level technical design of the infrastructure in Lagos, describes Project Bridge as the largest wholesale, open-access digital backbone investment by any developing nation. It aims to provide scalable, resilient and inclusive broadband connectivity to both urban and rural communities across Nigeria.
According to the Minister, “Project Bridge is currently the largest digital fibre backbone investment in any developing nation, and is a bold and strategic effort to lay a 90,000km wholesale, open-access fibre network across the country. It is designed to deliver high-speed, resilient, and equitable broadband connectivity to every corner of Nigeria — from major urban hubs to remote communities.”
Speaking at a stakeholder session hosted in partnership with the Association of Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ATCON), Tijani says the project forms a central pillar of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to digitally transform the nation.
According to the Minister, “Project Bridge is currently the largest digital fibre backbone investment in any developing nation, and is a bold and strategic effort to lay a 90,000km wholesale, open-access fibre network across the country. It is designed to deliver high-speed, resilient, and equitable broadband connectivity to every corner of Nigeria — from major urban hubs to remote communities.”
“Project Bridge is arguably the most ambitious and foundational digital infrastructure project in Nigeria’s history,” Dr. Tijani says. “It will enable every Nigerian, no matter their location, to participate meaningfully in our digital economy.”
Minister: Nigeria’s Project Bridge, largest fibre backbone investment in any developing nation
With a total network footprint of 125,000km—comprising 90,000km of new fibre layered on the existing 35,000km infrastructure—the initiative is expected to significantly boost broadband penetration and spur growth in Nigeria’s digital economy.
Seven regional rings to unify Nigeria’s digital infrastructure
At the heart of Project Bridge lies a resilient network design that integrates seven regional fibre rings connecting the six geopolitical zones and Lagos. These interconnected rings form a nationwide digital framework, engineered to support redundancy, reduce latency and allow seamless data flow across the country.
With a total network footprint of 125,000km—comprising 90,000km of new fibre layered on the existing 35,000km infrastructure—the initiative is expected to significantly boost broadband penetration and spur growth in Nigeria’s digital economy.
Connecting 774 LGAs and beyond
The project is structured into several infrastructure layers, from core and metro networks to middle and last mile access, offering support for both large and small Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
Each of Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) will be connected via Points of Presence (PoPs), ensuring equitable access to underserved and remote areas. These LGA hubs will in turn link to administrative wards, prioritising schools and healthcare centres through ward-level nodes.
“The network,” the Minister adds, “extends to all 774 Local Government Area (LGA) headquarters, establishing Points of Presence (PoPs) that serve as key distribution points. This ensures underserved and remote regions are integrated into the national digital framework. The rollout is prioritised by population density and demand, with a scalable design to accommodate future expansion.”
The fibre rollout is guided by population density and demand, with scalable capacity built into the architecture to accommodate future growth and technology evolution.
“This is not just about building cables. It’s about building inclusion, access, and opportunity for millions of Nigerians,” the Minister says.
Middle mile to last mile: powering homes and businesses
From the ward level, fibre will reach deeper into communities, supporting last-mile connectivity to homes, businesses, public institutions and innovation hubs. While the national backbone forms the foundation, Tijani notes that successful last-mile delivery will require strong collaboration between the government and private sector providers.
The network is designed to promote healthy competition, open access, and infrastructure sharing, in line with Nigeria’s National Broadband Plan and ambitions to become a top digital economy on the continent, the Minister says.
Sector reacts to ambitious fibre blueprint
Stakeholders at the unveiling applaud the scale and vision of Project Bridge, which comes amid rising demand for high-speed connectivity to drive financial inclusion, education, healthcare, digital services and e-governance.
Nigeria’s telecoms and tech sectors have long called for deeper infrastructure investment to unlock the country’s digital potential, particularly in rural and underserved regions where broadband gaps persist.
With 125,000km of fibre coverage planned, the project is expected to significantly transform Nigeria’s digital landscape and stimulate investments in content, cloud services, data centres, and local innovation.
Minister: “Help us shape the future”
Dr. Tijani invites feedback from stakeholders and the broader Nigerian public, saying their experiences and ideas are essential to refining and enriching the rollout of Project Bridge.
“As we move forward with this bold undertaking, we welcome comments around its potential impact and shared experiences that will support and enrich this process,” he says.
The Minister assures that the government remains committed to ensuring that no Nigerian is left behind in the journey towards building an inclusive, digitally-powered economy.
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