BRIDGE’s $500 Million project aims to deliver 90,000 km fiber network and connect all 774 local governments by 2031 under strict milestone-based funding terms.
The World Bank has approved a $500 million loan to support a sweeping digital infrastructure project in Nigeria, marking a key step toward closing the country’s broadband gap. The initiative plans to connect each of Nigeria’s 774 local government headquarters through a 90,000-kilometer fiber optic network over six years.
The project, known as Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth (BRIDGE), will be implemented via a unique “pay-for-results” model. Unlike traditional loans that disburse funds upfront, the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) will release financing only after Nigeria and its private sector partners meet verifiable milestones. The strategy is designed to reduce the fiscal risks that have hampered past infrastructure projects in Africa’s largest economy.
Nigeria’s current fixed broadband penetration stands at 8.4 percent—far behind neighboring Senegal, which has crossed the 30 percent threshold. Sparse infrastructure in rural regions and low-income areas has made investment unattractive for private operators. Through BRIDGE, the Nigerian government hopes to de-risk the sector while leveraging private capital under strict governance and financial controls.
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Initial disbursements are planned for 2026, with a $6 million tranche to kick-start operations. A larger $155 million payment is scheduled for 2027, contingent on the establishment of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that will lead deployment. The World Bank must approve the SPV’s structure, ensuring government ownership remains below 50 percent—an approach consistent with its “maximizing finance for development” model.
Progressively larger disbursements will follow as the project scales. Two $105 million tranches in 2028 and 2029 depend on reaching 25,000 km of laid fiber, while a $115 million release in 2030 hinges on hitting the 65,000 km mark. The remaining $14 million will be unlocked in 2031, once the SPV launches wholesale open-access broadband services under transparent, non-discriminatory terms.
The Nigerian government, led by President Bola Tinubu, has called BRIDGE a key pillar of its digital transformation strategy. Officials say the results-based model also helps curb corruption—an issue that plagued previous fiber expansion efforts.
Analysts agree the project could become a blueprint for similar initiatives across Africa. “If Nigeria delivers, it proves public funds can catalyze private investment without fiscal leakage,” said tech expert Jide Awe.
The World Bank estimates the new network will serve 125 million people and could boost Nigeria’s GDP by up to 1.5 percentage points annually by 2031. However, Nigeria must form the SPV and begin laying the first 5,000 km of fiber by December 2026—or risk losing the largest single-year tranche of funding.