The Federal Government has announced its partnership with the World Bank Group to raise $3 billion for expansion of broadband infrastructure in the country.
The project involves laying additional 120,000km of fibre optic cables across the country.
The Minister of Communications, Innovations, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, who made this disclosure at stakeholders meeting with the theme ‘Realising a Nigerian Vision of Broadband for All’ in Abuja, said he was optimistic that the fund would be raised for the completion of the project within the next two to three years.
According to him, the collaboration with the Bretton Woods institution would involve other stakeholders from the private sector.
Tijani explained that government was seeking investments in the digital backbone to ensure affordable access to the digital services for all Nigerians with the attendant positive implications for the telecommunications industry’s contributions to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
This is even as he disclosed that already Nigeria had already laid 3,035 kilometre of fiber optic cables, but needed additional 120,000 kilometres of the fibre optic cable to provide Nigerians with quality and efficient access to the internet and other digital services.
Speaking at the forum, the World Bank Regional Director (Infrastructure) West and Central Africa, Franz Drees-Gross, clarified the initial phase of the project would involve laying 95,000km of fiber optic cables to enhance access to digital services and content throughout the country.
The development finance expert acknowledged Nigeria’s vibrant digital ecosystem and expressed the World Bank’s commitment to supporting the country in raising the required funds for the broadband project.
Shedding more light on the project’s implementation, Drees-Gross said the plans would include setting up a digital National Broadband Fund and rolling out the middle-mile cable to deepen broadband penetration in the country.
