The Nigerian Government has announced plans to deploy 90,000km of fibre optic cable starting in the final quarter of 2025. This initiative follows a $700 million funding injection from international partners, including the World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB), and Islamic Development Bank.
The project aims to expand Nigeria’s fibre backbone from 35,000km to 125,000km, which will significantly increase internet penetration to over 70% of the population, connecting millions of Nigerians currently excluded from the digital space. Dr. Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, revealed the commencement date during an industry-focused session on fostering connectivity in underserved communities.
The initiative, approved by the Federal Executive Council in 2024, will establish a special purpose vehicle to manage the deployment. Upon completion, Nigeria’s fibre optic network will become the third-largest in Africa, behind Egypt and South Africa. The expansion will optimize the use of Nigeria’s eight submarine cables, increasing data capacity utilization from just 10% and driving down internet access costs by over 60%.
Tijani emphasized that the increased connectivity will help bridge the gap for over 200,000 educational, healthcare, and social institutions, ensuring more Nigerians benefit from the digital revolution. The project will also help connect at least 50% of the 33 million Nigerians currently without internet access.
