FG to incorporate Project BRIDGE SPV by July 31 for Nigeria's 90,000km fiber backbone

Nigeria's federal government expects to legally incorporate the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for Project BRIDGE authenticate by July 31, 2026, laying the foundation for deploying 90,000 kilometers of climate-resilient fiber optic networks nationwide by September 2030. This open-access wholesale infrastructure project aims to expand Nigeria's fiber backbone to 120,000km, connect over 770 local government areas and thousands of schools/hospitals, while potentially boosting broadband users from 92 million to 150 million and reducing wholesale bandwidth costs by 17% by 2030.

The SPV will mobilize private capital (expected $1.1B) alongside $500M World Bank IDA funding, plus AfDB ($200M), EBRD ($100M) and BADEA ($100M) contributions - totaling a formally appraised $1.6B financing envelope. Private investors will hold 51-75% equity with government retaining 25-49% minority stake. Construction peaks at 80-90km fiber daily across six simultaneous EPC zones starting 2027, facing immediate challenges including record fiber vandalism (155,397 cuts Apr-May 2026), right-of-way delays and security concerns under the 2024 CNII Order.

Success depends on the SPV securing capital, achieving financial close and executing coordinated construction - with private sector control intended to minimize political interference. Will private investors commit sufficient funding amid Nigeria's macroeconomic pressures, and can contractors maintain the brutal 80-90km/day installation pace while securing routes amid persistent vandalism threats?

SOURCE: https://techcabal.com/2026/08/04/nigerias-project-bridge-targets-90000km-fibre-network-by-2030/