The Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has commended the Federal Ministry of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE) for launching “Project Bridge,” a $2 billion initiative to build a nationwide fiber-optic backbone.
ATCON President, Mr. Tony Emoekpere, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the project, a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), is designed to connect all 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and local government areas with 90,000 km of fiber cables.
He explained that the project would not replace existing infrastructure but complement it, creating a more resilient and redundant network.
“Right now, most networks are linear. Just imagine if there’s only one road from Lagos to Ibadan — if anything happens to that road, you can’t get to Ibadan. This project will create alternative routes,” Emoekpere said.
Modeled after the energy sector’s PPP framework, the initiative will see the government contribute a portion of funding to a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), with the private sector providing the rest.
According to Emoekpere, the goal is to ensure uninterrupted connectivity even when parts of the network face disruptions. He said telcos fully support the plan, noting it will boost service delivery in underserved areas.
“With this project, we will have multiple options,” he added.
Project Bridge is part of Nigeria’s National Broadband Plan and aims to expand digital infrastructure to power education, healthcare, and the digital economy.
