Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy Dr Bosun Tijani says the federal government will provide half of the $2 billion required to deliver the country’s 90,000-kilometer fibre connectivity project.
The government’s $1 billion share will come from loans, part of the 2025 borrowing plan.
The World Bank is among the funding partners, and significant progress has already been made in the discussions with them. The government hopes to commence digging to lay cables in Q2 2025.
Tijani explained that private operators will invest the other $1 billion.
He said the government got involved because businesses tended to only invest in areas with high returns, leaving some parts of the country with poor connectivity. “For people to truly enjoy quality connectivity, you will either have to rely on private companies… or the government will have to put its own skin in the game,” he said.
The minister noted that businesses focusing only on areas of guaranteed returns neglected other parts with poor quality of service due to inadequate infrastructure.
He revealed that the government is setting up a Special Purpose Vehicle to manage the project. The SPV will be privately managed, with government investment and representation.
This approach is common in progressive countries, where governments prioritize connectivity as a vital resource.
The government’s investment in the backbone infrastructure is designed to ensure that connectivity is available to all citizens, regardless of location, driving economic growth.
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