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Minister Bosun Tijani announces major boost to Nigeria’s digital backbone at World Bank Forum.
Nigeria is set to receive telecommunications equipment and fibre optic infrastructure valued at $3 billion by June 2025. Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani announced this during a panel session at the Nigeria Development Update (NDU) hosted by the World Bank.
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Speaking during a panel session at the Nigeria Development Update (NDU) hosted by the World Bank, Tijani confirmed that $1 billion worth of telecom equipment would arrive mid-2025. An additional $2 billion in fibre optic cables is scheduled to follow.
Enhancing Broadband Access and Bridging the Digital Divide
The minister said this major infrastructure boost is part of Nigeria’s strategy to enhance digital connectivity. It will also strengthen internet infrastructure, and reduce the digital divide across urban and rural regions.
“Nigeria’s expanding fibre backbone will not only increase internet penetration to over 70%, but also reduce the cost of broadband access by more than 60%,” said Tijani.
Nigeria’s Fibre Network Expansion Underway
Nigeria already boasts five submarine fibre optic cables, delivering over 27Tbps of broadband capacity. However, current deployments have been heavily concentrated in urban areas.
With the private sector driving most of the existing infrastructure, the new investment—complemented by a recent $2 million U.S. grant for 90,000 km of fibre deployment—is expected to significantly expand reach to underserved communities.
Pilot Programme to Connect 20 Million Unserved Nigerians
In addition to infrastructure expansion, the government will launch a pilot connectivity programme targeting more than 20 million Nigerians currently lacking access to basic telecommunications services.
This aligns with Nigeria’s broader digital transformation roadmap, which includes universal broadband access, digital inclusion, and smart infrastructure deployment to drive economic growth and job creation.
World Bank’s Role and the Nigeria Development Update (NDU)
The Nigeria Development Update (NDU) is a bi-annual World Bank publication assessing Nigeria’s economic and social progress. The latest edition featured key insights on reforms, digital innovation, and strategies for inclusive development.
Minister Tijani’s announcement reinforces Nigeria’s commitment to transforming its digital landscape through strategic infrastructure partnerships and smart policy implementation.
