The Nigerian Federal Government has unveiled an ambitious plan to significantly expand the nation’s fibre-optic infrastructure by 90,000 kilometres. The expansion, dubbed the Fibre Forward Strategic Development project, is a $2 billion initiative designed to transform Nigeria’s connectivity landscape.
During the Fibre Forward Strategic Development Workshop, Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, emphasized the transformative potential of the project. “This initiative represents a major stride in our quest to revolutionize Nigeria’s connectivity and establish the country as the holder of Africa’s third-largest terrestrial fibre-optic infrastructure,” he said.
The completion of this project is expected to not only boost Nigeria’s technological infrastructure but also stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and empower the nation technologically. Minister Edun highlighted the government’s commitment to ensuring the project’s success and its anticipated positive impact on the economy and society.
In a related announcement made in May 2024, Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, introduced the launch of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) tasked with the implementation of the additional 90,000km fibre optic expansion. The SPV, a legally independent entity, will be responsible for managing the project’s execution, financials, and day-to-day operations.
Minister Tijani outlined the project’s ambitious goals, including the aim to provide Internet access to at least 50% of the 33 million Nigerians currently without connectivity. The project is also expected to contribute to a significant increase in the nation’s GDP, with a forecasted rise from $472.6 billion in 2022 to $502 billion within four years, potentially leading to a 1.5% per capita GDP growth.
The Fibre Forward Strategic Development project is a clear indication of Nigeria’s commitment to enhancing its digital infrastructure and positioning itself as a leader in Africa’s technological advancement.
Nigeria is taking significant strides to enhance its digital sector through a series of initiatives aimed at expanding Internet connectivity and safeguarding telecom infrastructure. In February 2024, the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy launched ‘Project 774 LG Connectivity,’ an ambitious program designed to connect all 774 local government secretariats across the country to the Internet. This initiative is expected to increase digital accessibility and create numerous job opportunities, both directly and indirectly.
Furthering its commitment to the digital economy, in April 2024, the Nigerian government announced plans to introduce legislation that would criminalize the destruction of broadband fibre cables. This decision came in response to reports from leading telecom operators MTN and Airtel, which suffered significant financial losses totaling ₦27 billion due to damage to their fibre infrastructure. The proposed regulation aims to provide robust protection for telecom infrastructure, which is increasingly recognized as critical to the nation’s socio-economic development.
The need for such protective measures was underscored by an incident in February 2024, when MTN Nigeria experienced a major service disruption. The outage was linked to the severing of a fibre optic cable, highlighting the vulnerability of the telecom network to physical damage.
By drafting new regulations that impose stringent penalties on those responsible for damaging telecom infrastructure, the Nigerian government is taking a proactive approach to ensure the stability and reliability of the country’s digital communications network. These combined efforts to expand connectivity and protect existing infrastructure are poised to significantly bolster Nigeria’s position as a leading digital economy in Africa.
