Nigeria Secures $100M to Connect 90,000km of Internet

Nigeria just scored a major win in its mission to bring every citizen online. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development approved $100 million to fund Project Bridge, an ambitious plan to lay 90,000 kilometers of fiber-optic cable across the nation.

The investment comes after Nigeria's Minister of Communications, Bosun Tijani, wrapped up a two-week tour across six European countries. His pitch worked. The European Union also chipped in an additional €22 million grant specifically for the digital connectivity project.

Project Bridge launched in August 2024 with a simple but powerful goal: get high-speed internet to communities that have been left behind. Right now, millions of Nigerians in underserved and rural areas struggle with slow or nonexistent internet access, limiting their ability to access education, healthcare information, and economic opportunities.

The new European funding joins $500 million already approved by the World Bank. Together, these investments will help Nigeria build one of Africa's most extensive fiber-optic networks, stretching the equivalent distance of circling Earth twice.

The European Union package includes more than just cables. An additional €18 million will improve digital public services, and €5 million will support the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) Programme, which trains young Nigerians in tech skills.

The Ripple Effect

When internet access expands, entire communities transform. Students in remote villages will be able to access online courses and educational resources that were previously out of reach. Small business owners can tap into online markets and digital payment systems. Farmers can check weather forecasts and market prices in real time.

The project also creates immediate jobs. Laying 90,000 kilometers of cable requires thousands of workers, from engineers and technicians to construction crews. Once the network goes live, it will need ongoing maintenance and support, creating long-term employment opportunities.

Minister Tijani emphasized that the government remains committed to completing the project on schedule. The international backing sends a clear message that global institutions believe in Nigeria's digital future.

For a country where internet connectivity has long been concentrated in major cities, Project Bridge represents a fundamental shift toward digital inclusion.

Nigeria is building the infrastructure to bring all its citizens into the digital age.