The Federal Government has revealed plans to launch a $2 billion fibre optic infrastructure project across Nigeria beginning in the fourth quarter of 2025.
The initiative will span 90,000 kilometres and aims to improve internet connectivity and digital inclusion for citizens.
Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, shared the update during an interview for an upcoming State House documentary commemorating President Bola Tinubu’s second year in office.
The Minister noted that Nigeria’s digital sector has grown impressively under the current administration, with Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) climbing from “$22 million” in the first quarter of 2023 to “$191 million” in the first quarter of 2024. The upward trend persisted into the second quarter, increasing from “$25 million” in 2023 to “$114 million” in 2024.
Tijani pointed to the impact of the 3MTT programme, introduced in October 2023 to train 3 million Nigerians in digital skills. The programme has already trained “117,000” people, surpassing its initial “30,000” target, with another “35,000” currently undergoing training.
“We hope to reach the 3 million target before the end of this administration,” he said.
Tijani also disclosed that Nigeria is now ranked among the world’s top “60” countries in AI readiness and is building its own Large Language Model (LLM). He highlighted the recent launch of the AI Collective Platform, backed by Google, Microsoft, and Pierre Omidyar, which is expected to stimulate AI development.
The Project Bridge rollout will include the installation of 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable to improve national broadband access.
“We are preparing a $2 billion investment to ensure every Nigerian can access affordable, high-quality connectivity regardless of location. Increasing connectivity hubs by just 10% could yield a 2.5% GDP growth,” he stated.
Tijani mentioned the ministry’s support for 55 academic researchers working on technological solutions in education, agriculture, and health. He also confirmed an investment of ₦300 million in 10 startups using AI and blockchain to boost agricultural productivity.
Regarding the Nigeria Startup House in San Francisco, which aims to raise “$5 billion” for Nigerian startups, he said:
“Our goal is to attract $5 billion in investments for Nigerian startups, supported by the Startup Pact and Trade Desk initiatives, which will connect local tech firms to global opportunities and government procurement.”
To close digital gaps in underserved areas, Tijani announced the planned deployment of “7,000 telecom towers” with a goal of achieving “98% nationwide coverage.” He added that the Federal Executive Council had approved the initiative.
The Minister called the Right-of-Way resolution a breakthrough, highlighting that “12 states” have embraced zero-rated policies to speed up infrastructure development.
He projected that the digital sector’s contribution to GDP would rise from “16%” to “22%” by 2025, supporting the National Broadband Plan’s goal of reaching “90%” internet penetration from “48%” in 2024.
“If a sector can increase its contribution by three to four per cent to the GDP, we’re about to see economic growth like never before. Technology allows us to bridge the gap between government and the people,” Tijani added.
He emphasized that the government remains committed to enduring, transformative reforms.
“The results we want to provide for Nigeria are long-lasting reforms that will transform our economy for generations to come,” he concluded.
What you should know
Nigeria plans to roll out a $2 billion fibre optic network covering 90,000km by late 2025 to expand digital access. Alongside this, AI development, tech funding, and digital skill initiatives are expected to increase broadband penetration and raise the tech sector’s GDP contribution from 16% to 22%.
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