Emmanuel OchayiIn a bid to bridge the digital divide and enhance broadband infrastructure, Nigeria’s Federal Government, in collaboration with the World Bank, plans to invest $3bn to lay an additional 120,000km of fiber optic cables across the country.
During a stakeholders’ engagement themed ‘broadband for all,’ Minister of Communications, Innovations, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, emphasized the necessity of such investments, stating, “We cannot do without technology and the internet; we all need quality access regardless of our location.”
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Tijani highlighted the significance of this initiative, stating, “There’s a need for us to invest in that databank…to make it possible for the internet to happen.”
Currently, Nigeria has laid approximately 3,035km of fiber optic cables, but Tijani stressed that an additional 120,000km is essential to ensure efficient access to the internet and digital services nationwide.
Addressing the funding aspect, Tijani expressed optimism in raising the required $3bn through collaboration with the World Bank, development finance institutions, and the private sector within the next two to three years.
Franz Gross, the World Bank Regional Director for Infrastructure in West and Central Africa, outlined the project’s first phase, which involves laying 95,000km of fiber optic cables across Nigeria.
He emphasized the importance of not only rolling out fiber but also investing in digital skills to enable effective usage and content generation.
Gross reiterated the project’s aim to bring low-cost digital access to all parts of Nigeria, emphasizing the need for comprehensive investment in both infrastructure and digital literacy.
The initiative signifies a concerted effort to democratize access to digital resources, with the potential to spur economic growth, improve education, and empower citizens across Nigeria.
