Digital Backbone Gets $200m AfDB Funding for Nationwide Internet Access

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has granted a $200 million loan to support Nigeria’s flagship digital infrastructure initiative, Project BRIDGE, which is designed to expand broadband access across the country.
Project BRIDGE, formally referred to as the Digital Value Chain Infrastructure for Boosting Employment (D-VIBE) programme, forms a key component of the Federal Government’s broader multi-billion-dollar strategy to strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy through nationwide fibre connectivity.

The initiative aims to expand Nigeria’s fibre backbone from roughly 30,000 kilometres to about 120,000 kilometres. Its objectives include connecting all 774 local government areas and enhancing regional interconnection with neighbouring countries such as Benin, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.

The project is attracting strong support from international development partners, with the World Bank having already pledged $500 million to the initiative, while the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is also anticipated to participate in the programme’s execution.

Meanwhile, the renewed inflow of funds reflects growing confidence in Nigeria’s digital infrastructure ambitions, particularly as broadband connectivity becomes ever more central to economic growth, job creation, and digital inclusion.

However, despite the fresh funding, the project remains in a heavy preparatory phase just as the Federal Government is spending $6.1 million on consultants covering transaction advisory, legal compliance, and technical planning.

“Procurement and advisory work suggest timelines will depend as much on regulatory alignment and project structuring as on capital availability,” the publication noted.

Experts caution that constraints such as right-of-way charges, regulatory bottlenecks, and coordination challenges among stakeholders could affect implementation timelines if not properly addressed.
Project BRIDGE is expected to play a critical role in bridging Nigeria’s connectivity gap, particularly in underserved and rural communities, while also positioning the country as a regional digital hub. Large-scale fibre investments of this nature reinforce the central role of terrestrial infrastructure in national connectivity strategies, with governments prioritising backbone control and regional interconnection as digital economies become material contributors to gross domestic product (GDP).

Experts maintain that effective execution and policy alignment will be key to unlocking the full benefits of the initiative and ensuring that investments translate into improved internet access and economic opportunities for citizens.
Reports indicate that the milestone-based disbursement model tied to rollout targets also indicates tighter oversight on execution.

In a sector that has witnessed huge investments, the delay in the execution of the Project BRIDGE could prolong connectivity gaps even as parallel investments in mobile networks accelerate in Nigeria.