The Federal Government has announced that work on its planned 90,000-kilometre nationwide fibre-optic network will commence in October 2026, in a major push to expand broadband access and strengthen Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, disclosed this in Abuja while speaking at the National Innovation Hub Standards Framework Workshop.

Tijani said funding for the project had been secured, paving the way for the commencement of what the government has described as Project BRIDGE.

The initiative is expected to deploy at least 90,000 kilometres of additional fibre-optic infrastructure across Nigeria through a public-private partnership arrangement.

When completed, the project will increase Nigeria’s existing fibre backbone from approximately 35,000 kilometres to about 125,000 kilometres.

According to the minister, the expansion is intended to provide the infrastructure required to extend reliable and affordable internet connectivity to underserved and poorly connected communities across the country.

Tijani said fibre infrastructure remained fundamental to the growth of Nigeria’s digital economy, noting that businesses, public institutions and individuals increasingly depend on reliable and high-speed internet services.

He explained that the government’s digital infrastructure strategy goes beyond fibre deployment and includes telecommunications towers, satellites, data centres and digital platforms.

The minister also disclosed that the government plans to deploy nearly 3,700 telecommunications towers in communities that currently lack adequate network coverage.

He said more than 20 million Nigerians live in communities without access to telecommunications services, highlighting the scale of the country’s connectivity gap.

The planned towers are expected to complement the fibre rollout by extending network coverage to areas where existing telecommunications infrastructure remains inadequate.

A telecommunications analyst, Abiola Okunnu said the proposed expansion could improve the quality and reliability of internet services because fibre-optic infrastructure provides the high-capacity backbone required to support growing data consumption.

According to the analyst, Nigeria’s digital economy cannot expand sustainably without corresponding investment in infrastructure.

“More fibre means greater capacity and potentially lower congestion on existing networks. But deployment must go beyond announcing kilometres of fibre. The infrastructure must reach areas where demand is underserved, remain operational and be supported by effective maintenance,” the expert said.

However, the expert stressed that affordability would remain as important as availability.

“Putting fibre in the ground does not automatically mean that people will be connected. The government and industry must also address the cost of devices, data affordability, electricity supply and the ability of low-income communities to access digital services,” the expert said.