Nigeria secures $100m EBRD funding to expand nationwide fibre network

Nigeria has secured fresh international backing for its ambitious broadband expansion drive, with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development approving a $100 million investment in the federal government’s Project BRIDGE initiative.

Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, disclosed the development on Wednesday via X, describing the approval as a major milestone in the government’s ongoing investment roadshow across Europe.

According to Tijani, the funding from the EBRD board comes as part of broader efforts to mobilise global capital for Project BRIDGE a special purpose vehicle established to accelerate fibre-optic deployment nationwide.

The minister noted that the latest commitment follows a series of high-level engagements during a two-week tour of six European countries aimed at attracting strategic partners.

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The EBRD financing adds to the $500 million previously secured from the World Bank Group to support the large-scale rollout.

In addition, the European Union has pledged a €22 million grant under a wider €45 million digital economy support package for Nigeria.

A breakdown of the EU package shows that €18 million has been earmarked to strengthen digital public infrastructure, while €5 million will be channelled towards the government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, designed to expand the country’s digital skills base.

Unveiled on August 5, 2025, Project BRIDGE is structured to crowd in private capital and technical expertise for the deployment of 90,000 kilometres of fibre-optic cable across the country.

The initiative targets a significant leap in connectivity, with projections to raise internet penetration by 70 percent overall and extend access to 80 percent of underserved communities by 2027.

The latest round of funding signals growing international confidence in Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda and its strategy to close the country’s broadband infrastructure gap.