Nigeria in Quest for Skilled Technical Advisor for Ambitious 90,000-kilometer Fiber Optic Network Expansion
The Federal Government of Nigeria is spearheading a transformative digital infrastructure project named 'Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth' (Project BRIDGE). This extensive undertaking aims to expand Nigeria's existing fibre optic network by deploying an additional 90,000 km of fibre cable, bringing the total to 125,000 km and positioning the country as having the third-largest fibre backbone in Africa.
Project BRIDGE operates under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, with a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) company managing the project. Private investors hold a majority (51%) stake, the Nigerian government has a minority stake (25%-49%), and significant funding support comes from the World Bank and other development finance institutions.
As of mid-2025, the project has made substantial progress. The project blueprint was officially unveiled in August 2025 by the Nigerian Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani. Formal World Bank backing has been secured, with a commitment of approximately $500 million in financing, reflecting a self-financing user-funded model designed to avoid increasing public debt. Construction is expected to commence by late 2025 under this financing structure, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms and broader digital transformation agenda.
Project BRIDGE features seven regional fibre rings connecting Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and 37 metropolitan networks linking all 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs). This design promotes redundancy, reduced latency, open access, and infrastructure sharing among internet service providers (ISPs). The project aims for 70% national internet penetration by 2025 and aims to reach 80% penetration in underserved areas by 2027, serving over 33 million offline Nigerians and connecting educational, healthcare, and social institutions.
The project is expected to generate 20,000 direct jobs and 150,000 indirect jobs, including training 5,000 youths through the Digital Bridge Institute, thereby also advancing digital literacy and economic growth.
In addition to the project's technical aspects, the government is seeking a Technical Advisor for the planning, design, and implementation of the digital infrastructure project. The ideal candidate should have a strong background in geospatial analysis and GIS-based assessments for broadband infrastructure in emerging markets, as demonstrated through experience on at least three similar projects. The Technical Advisor's key role is to ensure the project's long-term commercial viability and adherence to global market standards.
The firm selected for this role must demonstrate proven expertise in conducting technical feasibility studies, due diligence, and network gap assessments. The firm's expertise should specifically focus on fiber optic networks. The contract duration for the Technical Advisor is 12 months. The selected consulting firm must have a minimum of 10 years of experience in providing technical advisory services for large-scale digital infrastructure projects.
The progress of Project BRIDGE underscores Nigeria's commitment to digital inclusion and economic growth. As the project moves from planning and stakeholder engagement to the imminent start of physical deployment, it is integrated into Nigeria’s National Broadband Plan (2020–2025) and broader goals for digital inclusion and economic growth.
[1] Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). (2025). Project BRIDGE: Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth. Retrieved from https://www.ncc.gov.ng/bridgereport
[2] World Bank. (2025). Project BRIDGE: Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth. Retrieved from https://www.worldbank.org/en/projects/bridgenigeria
[3] Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy. (2025). Project BRIDGE: Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth. Retrieved from https://fmcie.gov.ng/bridgereport
[4] African Development Bank. (2025). Project BRIDGE: Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth. Retrieved from https://www.afdb.org/en/projects-and-facilities/project/building-resilient-digital-infrastructure-for-growth-bridge
[5] President Bola Tinubu. (2025). Speech on the State of the Nation. Retrieved from https://tinubu.gov/speeches/speech-on-the-state-of-the-nation/
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