FG invites private investors for 90,000km fibre optic project under PPP model 

The Ministry led by Dr. Bosun Tijani, in a consultation document released on Monday, said the initiative dubbed Project Bridge: Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth, seeks to establish a nationwide fibre network to enhance connectivity, support economic growth, and drive digital transformation.

It noted that this project aims to boost broadband penetration and strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure.

According to the Ministry, the project will be executed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, with the Nigerian government retaining a stake of between 25% and 49% in the SPV.

“The Ministry is issuing this invitation to ensure transparency, fairness, and accountability in the Project’s implementation and private sector engagement,” it stated.

According to the consultation document, private sector participants, including local and foreign investment firms, must meet the following criteria:

Nigeria’s broadband penetration currently stands at about 45%, with significant gaps in rural and underserved areas.

The 90,000km fibre optic project aims to bridge this gap, enabling universal access to high-speed internet and fostering innovation, e-commerce, and digital services.

Experts say the PPP approach could attract major telecom and infrastructure investors, accelerating Nigeria’s digital economy ambitions under the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS 2020-2030).

Dr. Bosun Tijani had in May last year announced the approval of the SPV by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), noting that it would be modeled in governance and operations similarly to some of the best Public-Private Partnership setups in Nigeria, such as NIBSS and NLNG.

It is also expected to deliver up to 1.5% of GDP growth per capita raising GDP from $472.6 billion (2022) to $502 billion over the next 4 years.