The African Development Bank Group has approved a $200 million loan to support Nigeria’s digital infrastructure expansion and job creation efforts under the Digital Value Chain Infrastructure for Boosting Employment (D-VIBE) Project. The initiative aims to close connectivity gaps and strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy by expanding the country’s national fibre backbone from about 30,000 kilometres to approximately 120,000 kilometres, connecting all 774 Local Government Areas. The expanded network will link schools, health facilities, agro-industrial zones, rural communities, and commercial hubs to high-speed broadband services.
The project, also known as Project BRIDGE, is structured as a public-private partnership through a Special Purpose Vehicle, with public sector ownership ranging between 25 and 49 per cent and private sector participation accounting for 51 to 75 per cent. The AfDB loan forms part of an $800 million sovereign financing package, alongside $500 million from the World Bank and $100 million from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Total project financing is estimated at $2 billion, with additional support from private sector investments and development partners.
The initiative will also establish cross-border fibre connections with Benin, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad to boost regional digital integration. An EU grant of 22 million euros and a $2.6 million project preparation grant from the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance are included. The project is expected to generate up to 2.8 million jobs over its lifecycle and increase Nigeria’s broadband penetration from 45 per cent to about 70 per cent by 2030.
AfDB Nigeria Office Director-General Abdul Kamara said the project would unlock opportunities across sectors, adding that high-speed connectivity would become a reality for every Nigerian community. He noted that the initiative would equip young Nigerians with digital tools needed to build sustainable livelihoods, address barriers to digital adoption through affordable devices, large-scale skills development, and support for digital platforms. The project aligns with Nigeria’s Vision 2050, National Development Plan, Renewed Hope Agenda, and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
