AfDB Approves $200m Loan for Nigeria Fibre Expansion Project to Boost Broadband, Jobs and Digital Economy
The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has approved a $200 million loan to support Nigeria’s ambitious Digital Value Chain Infrastructure for Boosting Employment (D-VIBE) project, a major initiative designed to expand fibre-optic connectivity, strengthen digital skills, and create jobs across the country. The funding marks a significant step toward improving Nigeria’s digital infrastructure and boosting economic opportunities through technology.
At the heart of the project is a large-scale rollout of 90,000 kilometres of open-access fibre network, which will significantly upgrade Nigeria’s broadband backbone. This expansion is expected to raise the country’s total fibre coverage from about 30,000 kilometres to approximately 120,000 kilometres, improving internet access and connectivity nationwide.
The project will connect all 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria, extending high-speed internet access to schools, hospitals, agro-industrial zones, rural communities, and commercial hubs. It also includes cross-border fibre links with neighbouring countries such as Benin, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad, aimed at strengthening regional integration and digital trade.
Structured as a public-private partnership, the initiative will be managed through a Special Purpose Vehicle with private sector participation expected to range between 51% and 75%. The model is designed to improve efficiency and address long-standing challenges such as high construction costs and right-of-way delays that have slowed infrastructure development in the past.
Overall financing for the project is estimated at $2 billion, combining contributions from the AfDB, World Bank Group, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, EU grants, and private investors. AfDB’s Nigeria Director General, Abdul Kamara, said the initiative will unlock opportunity by connecting Nigerians to digital infrastructure, while also expanding access to devices, skills training, and digital platforms that support long-term economic growth.
source: newtelegraph