Nigeria's ambitious fiber optic network expansion project has received a boost from the World Bank, as announced by Communications Minister Dr. Bosun Tijani. The project aims to extend Nigeria's digital infrastructure by 90,000 kilometers, increasing the national backbone from 35,000km to 125,000km.
The initiative, estimated to cost $2 billion, will position Nigeria as Africa's third-largest terrestrial fiber optic network, behind South Africa and Egypt. A special purpose vehicle has been established by the Federal Executive Council to oversee funding aggregation and project implementation.
The expansion is projected to increase internet penetration beyond 70% while reducing access costs by over 60%. The project will connect more than 200,000 educational, healthcare, and social institutions across Nigeria, addressing the current digital divide that affects approximately 33 million Nigerians without internet access.
Implementation is expected to begin within six months, with the World Bank joining other funding partners to support the initiative. This development marks a crucial step in Nigeria's digital transformation journey and aligns with the country's National Broadband Plan 2020-2025 objectives.
