The Board of Directors, African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has approved a $200 million facility to Nigeria to support a major digital infrastructure initiative aimed at expanding nationwide fibre connectivity, enhancing digital skills, and accelerating job creation.
The facility is expected to support the Digital Value Chain Infrastructure for Boosting Employment (D-VIBE) Project, also known as Project BRIDGE,.
It is a flagship programme designed to deploy 90,000 kilometres of open-access fibre across the country.
As Africa’s most populous nation and West Africa’s largest market, Nigeria is positioning its digital economy as a key driver of growth.
The project is also expected to bridge connectivity gaps, boost productivity, and unlock employment opportunities at scale.
Nigeria’s national fibre backbone will expand from approximately 30,000 kilometres to 120,000 kilometres under the initiative , enabling high-speed broadband access across all 774 local government areas.
The rollout will connect critical institutions -including schools, healthcare facilities, agro-industrial zones, rural communities, and commercial centres-while also establishing cross-border links with neighbouring Benin, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad.
Structured as a public-private partnership, D-VIBE will operate through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), with public ownership ranging between 25 and 49 percent, and private sector participation between 51 and 75 percent.
This model is designed to address longstanding challenges such as high construction costs and Right-of-Way constraints.
The AfDB’s $200 million contribution forms part of a broader $800 million sovereign financing package, alongside $500 million from the World Bank and $100 million from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
Total project financing is estimated at $2 billion, incorporating a N22 million grant from the European Union, a $2.6 million project preparation grant from the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF), and at least $1.2 billion in private sector investment.
Speaking on the development, the Director – General African Development Bank Group Nigeria Office, , Abdul Kamara, said the initiative would unlock Nigeria’s digital potential by providing the critical infrastructure needed to connect talent to opportunity nationwide.
“Nigeria has the talent, the market, and the ambition; what it has lacked is the backbone infrastructure to connect that potential to opportunity. D-VIBE changes that. From the north to the south, from farms to factories to classrooms, this investment will make high-speed connectivity a reality for every Nigerian community and give young people the tools to build their futures digitally.” he said
The project is being coordinated through a working group of development finance institutions, co-led by the Nigerian government and the AfDB, to ensure alignment in design, technical studies, and financing.
Apart of infrastructure rollout, D-VIBE will address demand-side constraints by promoting affordable device access, scaling digital skills development, and supporting digital platforms in key sectors. It will also strengthen cybersecurity frameworks and foster competitive market conditions, while incorporating renewable and hybrid energy solutions to enhance resilience.
The initiative is projected to generate up to 2.8 million jobs over its lifecycle and increase Nigeria’s broadband penetration from 45 percent to approximately 70 percent by 2030.
The project aligns with Nigeria’s long-term development frameworks, including Vision 2050 and the Renewed Hope Development Plan (2026–2030).
