Nigeria advances nationwide fibre connectivity project

The board of directors of the African Development Bank Group has approved a US$200mn loan to the government of Nigeria to support a major national initiative aimed at expanding fibre connectivity, strengthening digital skills, and accelerating job creation

As Africa’s most populous nation and the largest economy in West Africa, Nigeria is positioning its digital economy as a key driver of growth. The Digital Value Chain Infrastructure for Boosting Employment (D-VIBE) Project is designed to address connectivity gaps and enhance productivity nationwide. The programme will extend the country’s fibre network from approximately 30,000 km to 120,000 km, ensuring all 774 Local Government Areas are linked to high-speed broadband. This includes critical infrastructure such as schools, healthcare centres, agro-industrial zones, rural communities, and commercial hubs, while also establishing cross-border connections with Benin, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad.

Also referred to as Project BRIDGE, D-VIBE will be implemented through a public-private partnership model using a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). Under this structure, public ownership will range between 25% and 49%, while private investors will hold between 51% and 75%. This approach is intended to mitigate challenges such as high construction costs and Right-of-Way barriers that have historically slowed infrastructure rollout.

The African Development Bank Group’s US$200mn contribution forms part of a broader US$800mn sovereign financing package. Additional funding includes US$500mn from the World Bank and US$100mn from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Total investment in the project is estimated at US$2bn, supported by a €22mn grant from the European Union, a US$2.6mn project preparation grant from the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance, and at least US$1.2bn in private sector funding.

“Nigeria has the talent, the market, and the ambition; what it has lacked is the backbone infrastructure to connect that potential to opportunity. D-VIBE changes that. From the north to the south, from farms to factories to classrooms, this investment will make high-speed connectivity a reality for every Nigerian community and give young people the tools to build their futures digitally,” said Abdul Kamara, director general, African Development Bank Group Nigeria Office.

The project is being coordinated through a working group of development finance institutions, jointly led by the Nigerian government and the African Development Bank Group, to align technical design, studies, and funding strategies.

Beyond expanding infrastructure, D-VIBE will focus on stimulating demand through improved access to affordable devices, large-scale digital skills development, and support for digital platforms across priority sectors. It will also strengthen cybersecurity frameworks and promote market competition, while incorporating sustainability measures such as hybrid and renewable energy solutions to enhance resilience.

Over its lifecycle, the initiative is expected to generate up to 2.8 million jobs and increase national broadband penetration from 45% to around 70% by 2030.

The project supports Nigeria’s Vision 2050, the National Development Plan, and the Renewed Hope Development Plan (2026–2030), while also aligning with African Union Agenda 2063 and the African Development Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy (2024–2033).