Nigeria Secures $100 Million From EBRD for 90,000km National Fibre Optic Network

Nigeria has secured an additional $100 million in funding from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to expand its national fibre optic infrastructure under Project BRIDGE.

Communications Minister Bosun Tijani announced the investment following a two-week tour across six European countries to secure funding for the government's ambitious plan to lay 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable nationwide.

The EBRD funding brings the total secured financing for Project BRIDGE to $600 million, adding to a $500 million facility already approved by the World Bank Group.

In addition to the EBRD loan, the European Union has signed off on a €22 million grant specifically for Project BRIDGE. This forms part of a larger €45 million Digital Economy Package that includes €18 million for digital public services and €5 million for the 3 Million Technical Talent programme.

Project BRIDGE represents Nigeria's most ambitious connectivity initiative to date, designed to bring high-speed internet to areas currently underserved by reliable broadband infrastructure.

The 90,000km of planned fibre infrastructure will reach cities, towns, and rural communities that mobile networks alone have not been able to serve adequately. Currently, most Nigerians access the internet through mobile data, which remains expensive and often unreliable. Broadband penetration remains low, particularly outside major urban centres.

Fibre infrastructure provides the backbone that mobile networks, internet service providers, and other operators can utilise to offer faster, more affordable internet services.

The project aims to address the infrastructure deficit that is constraining Nigeria's digital economy growth. Reliable internet connectivity is essential for startups, remote workers, students, and businesses, yet many areas lack the necessary cable infrastructure.

The EBRD and World Bank investments signal international confidence in Nigeria's digital economy potential despite broader economic challenges. These are structured as infrastructure financing loans, meaning Nigeria will repay them over time as the project generates returns.

For the development banks, the investment represents a bet that improved internet infrastructure will drive economic activity, create jobs, and enable services such as digital payments, e-government, and online education.

The €22 million EU grant, unlike the loans, constitutes actual free funding specifically earmarked for Project BRIDGE. The additional €18 million for digital public services will support government agency digitisation efforts, while the €5 million for 3MTT will fund training programmes aimed at building Nigeria's tech talent pipeline.

Minister Tijani's diplomatic tour successfully secured commitments before Nigeria finalised its annual budget, demonstrating that international partners view Nigeria's digital infrastructure challenges as addressable and financially viable investment opportunities.