The Federal Government is gearing up to deploy a $2 billion nationwide fibre optic infrastructure by the fourth quarter of 2025, according to the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani.
Dr. Tijani made the announcement during an interview for a forthcoming State House documentary marking President Bola Tinubu’s second anniversary in office. He disclosed that the initiative—dubbed Project Bridge—will cover 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic cables across the country, significantly boosting digital connectivity and access.
“We are preparing a $2 billion investment to ensure every Nigerian can access affordable, high-quality connectivity regardless of location,” said the Minister. He added that increasing connectivity hubs by just 10% could result in a 2.5% GDP growth.
The rollout is part of a broader set of reforms transforming Nigeria’s digital economy. Tijani highlighted a sharp rise in foreign direct investment (FDI) into the sector—from $22 million in Q1 2023 to $191 million in Q1 2024, a more than ninefold increase. FDI also surged in Q2 2024 to $114 million, up from $25 million in the same period last year.
The Minister attributed this progress to foundational reforms and advancements in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) and Nigeria’s burgeoning startup ecosystem. He noted that Nigeria now ranks among the world’s top 60 countries for AI readiness and has developed its own large language model (LLM). The launch of the AI Collective platform, supported by global tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Pierre Omidyar, aims to foster innovation and collaboration in AI development.
Another highlight of the administration’s tech drive is the 3MTT programme, launched in October 2023 to build a digitally skilled workforce. The programme has already trained over 117,000 Nigerians—far surpassing its initial target of 30,000—with 35,000 more currently in training. The government aims to reach 3 million skilled individuals before the end of the administration’s term.
Tijani also revealed major infrastructure projects to address rural connectivity gaps, including the deployment of 7,000 telecom towers targeting 98% nationwide coverage. He confirmed that the Federal Executive Council has approved the project, which aligns with the National Broadband Plan’s goal of achieving 90% broadband penetration by 2025, up from 48% in 2024.
Addressing regulatory bottlenecks, Tijani hailed progress on Right-of-Way policies, noting that 12 states have adopted zero-rated access charges, which he described as a “game-changer” for digital expansion.
In addition to infrastructure, the ministry has also supported academic and entrepreneurial innovation, funding 55 researchers to explore technology applications in agriculture, healthcare, and education. It also invested ₦300 million in 10 startups leveraging AI and blockchain to enhance agricultural productivity.
Looking outward, Nigeria’s global tech ambitions are evident in the establishment of the Nigeria Startup House in San Francisco, designed to attract $5 billion in startup funding. The initiative is backed by the Startup Pact and Trade Desk, aimed at connecting Nigerian tech firms with global markets and procurement opportunities.
On legislative developments, Dr. Tijani confirmed that the Digital Economy Bill has passed its first reading at the National Assembly, and over 500 government technologists have been trained in AI and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).
“Our goal is not quick wins,” Tijani said. “The results we want to provide for Nigeria are long-lasting reforms that will transform our economy for generations to come. Technology allows us to break the gap between governments and the people.”
As the digital sector’s contribution to GDP is projected to rise from 16% to 22%, the government is betting on tech-driven reforms as a cornerstone for Nigeria’s economic future.
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