The Federal Government is gearing up for a major infrastructure boost, with plans to deploy 90,000 kilometers of fiber-optic cable across Nigeria within the next six months.
Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, announced this ambitious project while detailing recent achievements of the Ministry.
This extensive deployment aims to significantly enhance Nigeria’s national connectivity backbone, expanding it from the current 35,000 kilometers to 125,000 kilometers. The initiative is expected to improve telecom service quality and connectivity nationwide.
Dr. Tijani revealed that the funding for this project is being coordinated with international partners, including the World Bank. The Federal Executive Council has approved a Special Purpose Vehicle for the project, which is currently finalizing its financing structure. The target is to commence deployment between now and February 2025.
“The FEC has endorsed the SPV, and our development partners are working to finalize the funding structure required for this extensive fiber-optic network,” Tijani stated. He emphasized that enhanced connectivity would stimulate a more vibrant digital ecosystem, creating both short-term and long-term opportunities.
The fiber-optic expansion is set to revolutionize connectivity across Nigeria, helping to connect more communities and integrate more citizens into the digital economy. This project is anticipated to boost internet penetration to over 70% and cut internet access costs by more than 60%. Additionally, it aims to include at least 50% of the 33 million Nigerians currently without internet access.
Economically, the project is expected to contribute up to 1.5% to GDP growth per capita, potentially raising Nigeria’s GDP from $472.6 billion in 2022 to $502 billion over the next four years.
Despite the promising outlook, stakeholders in the ICT sector have expressed concerns about potential obstacles to the project’s success. They highlight the need for the government to address Right of Way issues across Nigeria’s 36 states. These challenges, often involving delays and regulatory hurdles imposed by state governments, could impede the timely deployment of the fiber-optic network.
For the project to succeed, it will be crucial for the Federal Government to secure cooperation from state governments to overcome these infrastructural and regulatory barriers.
