- Nigeria has opened bids for over $6m in contracts under the World Bank-backed BRIDGE Project to strengthen the national digital backbone.
- The initiative aims to deploy 90,000 kilometres of fibre-optic cable, targeting 70% internet penetration across all geopolitical zones by 2027.
- Total commitments for the project have surpassed $600m, following recent funding from the European Union and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Nigeria has officially invited local and international firms to bid for over $6m in contracts aimed at transforming the country.
Eko Hot Blog reports that these contracts, part of the Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth (BRIDGE) Project, will cover a range of services from July 2025 to December 2026.
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Key areas of investment include financial advisory, legal compliance, technical infrastructure planning, and a nationwide training program to develop a skilled fibre-optic workforce.
The procurement process is a critical step in the federal government’s ambitious plan to build a 90,000-kilometre national fibre-optic backbone.
By November 2025, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) confirmed that the project was on track for its first major delivery in early 2026.
The initial phase targets the completion of 30,000 kilometres of fibre, a milestone closely tied to a $500m loan agreement with the World Bank.
Minister Bosun Tijani, who unveiled the project in August 2025, has described it as the largest digital fibre investment ever seen in a developing nation.
To manage this massive rollout, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) was incorporated in late 2025 to oversee deployment through public-private partnerships.
With additional grants of €2m from the EU and $100m from the EBRD secured in February 2026, the project is well-positioned to drive significant economic growth and bridge the digital divide in Nigeria.
