The Federal Government of Nigeria has obtained a fresh $100 million financing commitment from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to accelerate the nationwide expansion of fibre-optic infrastructure under its Project BRIDGE initiative.
Project BRIDGE, an acronym for Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth, is the government’s flagship programme to extend broadband connectivity across Nigeria by deploying approximately 90,000 kilometres of fibre-optic cable. This initiative is central to the state’s strategy to close glaring digital access gaps, especially in underserved and rural areas, and to support economic diversification and digital inclusion.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, confirmed the EBRD Board’s formal approval of the $100 million investment following the conclusion of an investment tour of European capitals. According to the minister, this funding is additional to the $500 million previously approved by the World Bank Group for the project.
“As we conclude the final leg of our Project BRIDGE Investment Tour in Europe this week, following several extremely positive engagements, I am pleased to confirm the formal approval by the Board of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development EBRD to proceed with a $100 million investment in Project BRIDGE.”
The current financing package also includes components aimed at enhancing digital public services and skills development. €18 million is earmarked for digital public services, while €5 million is allocated to support the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, a skills-building effort intended to expand Nigeria’s domestic tech capacity and workforce.
“These approvals are deeply reassuring as we reflect on the hard work and the air miles, across six countries in two weeks to secure the partnerships required to deploy 90,000km of fibre across Nigeria, delivering meaningful connectivity to all Nigerians,” the minister said.
Project BRIDGE is structured around a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that leverages public-private partnerships to mobilise capital, crowds in private investment, and underwrite long-term infrastructure deployment. The government’s use of a SPV is meant to de-risk private participation and attract global financiers and technology partners.
Despite these investments, Nigeria’s broadband penetration remains below global standards. Broadband access in the country has hovered below 50 per cent, falling short of the national target of 70 per cent set under the National Broadband Plan (2020-2025). Persistent infrastructure deficits and high deployment costs have constrained commercial expansion and sustained the digital divide.
Project BRIDGE and its associated financing aim to address these constraints by building out core backbone infrastructure that can support affordable, resilient, and open broadband services, drive digital public services, and enable new economic activity across education, healthcare, commerce, and government functions.
Analytically, the EBRD’s investment signals continued international confidence in Nigeria’s digital infrastructure agenda, aligning multilateral finance with national efforts to improve connectivity and advance economic competitiveness. However, the success of this expanded funding will depend on clear implementation milestones, robust governance of the SPV, and the ability to translate capital commitments into tangible network deployments and measurable improvements in internet access.
