IllustrativeNigeria — National Broadband & Fibre Backbone (Project BRIDGE)
Nigeria · NationwideDigital — telecommunications infrastructure · National Broadband & Fibre Backbone
Nigeria's federal programme to lay 90,000 km of open-access fibre, extending the national backbone to about 120,000 km and all 774 local government areas, with USD 800m of DFI debt approved and USD 1,200m of equity sought for the delivery SPV.
Rationale
Lagos and the FCT hold over 18% of national fibre, while large parts of the North and South-East remain underserved.¹ Project BRIDGE lays 90,000 km of open-access fibre, taking the backbone to about 120,000 km and supporting broadband penetration rising from about 45% to 70% by 2030.²
- Network
- 90,000 km new fibre; backbone to c. 120,000 km
- Design
- Seven regional backbone rings
- Reach
- All 774 local government areas
- Links
- Planned to Benin, Cameroon, Niger and Chad
Investment opportunity
Transaction structure
Equity in an independent SPV with its own board: Federal Government 25–49%, private investors 51–75%.
Use of funds
Open-access core, metropolitan and middle-mile fibre, organised as seven regional backbone rings.
Revenue basis
Wholesale capacity shared with large and small internet service providers on open-access terms.
The ask
USD 1,200m of equity from strategic and financial investors for the private 51–75% SPV stake, alongside USD 800m of approved DFI debt.
Why it is bankable
The World Bank (USD 500m), AfDB (USD 200m) and EBRD (USD 100m) each approved financing after their own appraisals.²
An independent delivery SPV was incorporated in August 2026, with private majority ownership and professional management.
Lagos and the FCT hold over 18% of national fibre, while large parts of the North and South-East remain underserved.¹
Completes the National Broadband Plan's 120,000 km target and supports lifting broadband penetration from about 45% to 70% by 2030.²
Data and evidence · National backbone today vs with Project BRIDGE
| Today | With Project BRIDGE | |
|---|---|---|
| Backbone | About 30,000–35,000 km | About 120,000–125,000 km |
| Coverage | Lagos and the FCT over 18% of fibre | All 774 local government areas |
| Broadband | About 45% penetration | About 70% targeted by 2030 |
Project readiness and timeline
- OriginationLate-stage development
- FeasibilityCompleted
- StructuringSPV incorporated
- Financial closeEquity raise open
- ConstructionTo follow
Key risks and mitigants
Wholesale contracts are not yet signed beyond the MoU; open-access sales to large and small ISPs spread demand across many buyers.
90,000 km is a large national build; delivery runs through an independent SPV with professional management and seven regional rings.
The equity stake is still to be raised; USD 800m of DFI debt is already approved after appraisal by three DFIs.
Transaction terms
- Offtaker
- Market: wholesale capacity to large and small ISPs
- Contract status
- MoU
- Instrument sought
- Equity: private 51–75% stake in the SPV
- Structure
- Independent SPV with its own board, incorporated August 2026
- Technology
- Open-access fibre-optic cable: core, metro and middle-mile layers
- Capacity
- 90,000 km of new fibre reaching all 774 LGAs
- Development stage
- Late-stage development; DFI debt approved
- WAIIS pillar
- Digital Transformation
Development impact
Jobs
Up to 20,000 direct and over 150,000 indirect jobs, on the Ministry's estimate.²
Social
Connectivity for more than 200,000 educational, health and other social institutions.
Skills
5,000 young Nigerians trained to support rollout and network maintenance.
Regional
Cross-border links planned to Benin, Cameroon, Niger and Chad.