The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda
Federal Government is set to deploy 90,000 kilometres of open-access fibre across the 36 states of the federation by 2028 under Project BRIDGE, a digital infrastructure initiative aimed at expanding broadband connectivity nationwide.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, who disclosed this during a virtual executive session with Chief Executive Officers in the information technology industry, explained that when completed, the project is expected to increase Nigeria’s combined fibre backbone from about 35,000 kilometres to 125,000 kilometres and connect more than 200,000 schools, health facilities and other public institutions.
Yilwatda, in a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Information, Abimbola Tooki, on Thursday, described digital infrastructure as critical to Nigeria’s economic transformation, saying the country’s ambitions in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, digital inclusion and a technology-driven economy could not be achieved without robust and affordable connectivity.
He said the physical rollout of Project BRIDGE was scheduled to commence in October 2026, with the delivery period reduced from five years to three years, while about $800m in sovereign financing had already been secured for the project.
The statement partly read, “According to him, the Federal Government incorporated Bridge Open Access in August as an independent company to deliver the network, with government, through the Ministry of Finance Incorporated, expected to hold between 25 and 49 per cent, while private investors will hold between 51 and 75 per cent and retain operational control.
“He said the structure was deliberately designed to ensure that government provides the necessary de-risking and strategic support while the private sector brings operational discipline, investment and efficiency to the project.
“The APC National Chairman disclosed that about $800 million in sovereign financing had already been secured for the initiative, comprising $500 million from the World Bank, $100 million from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and $200 million from the African Development Bank, in addition to a €22 million grant from the European Union.”
Yilwatda said the physical deployment of the project would begin in October 2026, with its implementation timeline shortened from five years to three years and completion expected by 2028.
The ruling party chairman added, “When completed, the project is expected to take Nigeria’s 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.
“He, however, cautioned that the success of the initiative would depend on moving beyond policy announcements to actual implementation. Announcements do not lay cable”, he said, stressing that about $1.2 billion was still required from private capital to complete the financing needs of the project.
“He also noted 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.”
Yilwatda said fibre infrastructure remained concentrated in major urban centres, with Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory accounting for over 18 per cent of deployed fibre.
He also noted that fibre-to-the-home penetration remained low, with only about 265,000 subscribers nationwide.
He identified right-of-way charges, multiple permits and inconsistent regulatory requirements as major challenges facing telecommunications operators.
He said the APC would work with the Progressive Governors’ Forum and state chapters to promote harmonised right-of-way terms and protect telecommunications infrastructure.
Yilwatda also called for the protection of fibre-optic infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure, warning that vandalism and damage caused by road construction and other civil works could undermine investments in digital connectivity.
He advocated better coordination between road construction and telecommunications projects, proposing that road contracts include provisions for telecommunications ducts and require contractors to identify and protect existing fibre infrastructure before excavation.
The statement continued, “Speaking 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 make a strategic decision to become an active participant and beneficiary of the AI revolution rather than merely becoming a consumer of technologies developed elsewhere.
“The 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.
“The APC National Chairman noted that Nigeria already had a National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, while the Federal Government had 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.”
The Federal Government has continued to prioritise digital infrastructure as part of efforts to expand broadband access, strengthen the digital economy and support the adoption of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and cloud computing.
Project BRIDGE is designed to address gaps in fibre connectivity by expanding the country’s backbone infrastructure beyond major urban centres and extending reliable internet access to public institutions and underserved communities.
