AfDB approves $200m for Nigeria’s digital backbone expansion

THE African Development Bank Group has approved a $200 million loan to Nigeria to support a major digital infrastructure programme aimed at expanding the country’s fibre-optic backbone and accelerating job creation.

The funding will go toward the Digital Value Chain Infrastructure for Boosting Employment (D-VIBE) Project, also known as Project BRIDGE, a flagship initiative designed to deploy 90,000 kilometres of open-access fibre nationwide. The project is expected to significantly enhance connectivity, boost productivity and unlock opportunities across key sectors of the economy.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and West Africa’s largest market, is increasingly relying on its digital economy as a key driver of growth. Under the project, the country’s existing fibre network will expand from about 30,000 kilometres to 120,000 kilometres, extending high-speed broadband access to all 774 local government areas. Critical institutions, including schools, hospitals, agro-industrial hubs and rural communities, are expected to benefit alongside the development of cross-border links with neighbouring countries such as Benin, Cameroon, Niger and Chad.

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Structured as a public-private partnership, the project will be implemented through a Special Purpose Vehicle, with public ownership capped at between 25 and 49 percent while private investors are expected to hold a majority stake. This model is designed to address long-standing challenges such as high rollout costs and Right-of-Way constraints.

The AfDB’s contribution forms part of an $800 million sovereign financing package that includes $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, supported by additional grants and private sector investments.

According to Abdul Kamara, Director General of the AfDB’s Nigeria Office, the initiative will bridge critical infrastructure gaps and empower millions of Nigerians with access to digital tools and opportunities.

Beyond infrastructure, the project will promote digital skills development, affordable device access and supportive policies for cybersecurity and competition. It is projected to create up to 2.8 million jobs and increase Nigeria’s broadband penetration from 45 percent to about 70 percent by 2030.

The initiative aligns with national and continental development frameworks, including Nigeria’s long-term economic plans and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.