Nigeria awards $6m contracts to spice up broadband rollout

Nigeria has opened greater than $6m in contracts below the Constructing Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Development Mission, a World Financial institution-backed initiative to speed up broadband rollout and strengthen the nation’s digital economic system.

This implies the federal government has formally invited firms to submit bids or proposals for the tasks. Corporations will likely be evaluated on expertise, technical functionality, and value earlier than profitable contracts are awarded and work begins.

In keeping with the procurement plan doc seen by The PidomNigeria on Tuesday, the contracts, overlaying July 2025 to December 2026, will fund advisory companies, capability constructing, and undertaking implementation actions. These embody monetary and transaction advisory companies, authorized and regulatory compliance help, technical planning and infrastructure advisory, and coaching programmes for a fibre-optic workforce throughout the nation.

The contracts are a part of Nigeria’s wider efforts to construct a nationwide fibre-optic community of 90,000 kilometres, which is meant to enhance broadband entry and help digital connectivity throughout all geo-political zones. Contracts will likely be awarded by a mixture of nationwide and worldwide aggressive procedures, following World Financial institution and Nigerian public procurement guidelines.

The procurement course of will strengthen Nigeria’s digital spine, speed up the rollout of fibre networks, and create alternatives for native and worldwide corporations in advisory, consultancy, and technical coaching. The BRIDGE Mission, recognized as Mission P508383, is central to Nigeria’s technique to spice up digital infrastructure, drive financial progress, and increase entry to dependable web companies.

The BRIDGE undertaking had acquired presidential approval for a special-purpose vehicle-led rollout. It was formally unveiled by Minister Bosun Tijani in August 2025 at a Lagos stakeholder occasion as the most important digital fibre funding in a growing nation.

The SPV incorporation was deliberate for the third quarter of 2025 to supervise deployment, with 12 months one focusing on 30,000 kilometres of fibre. By November 2025, the Nationwide Info Expertise Growth Company confirmed on-track progress towards first-quarter 2026 supply, whereas the World Financial institution tied a $500m mortgage to key milestones reminiscent of 25,000 kilometres of completion.

The undertaking secured extra funding in February 2026, together with a €2m grant from the European Union and $100m from the European Financial institution for Reconstruction and Growth, bringing whole worldwide commitments to over $600m. Early implementation started with route design contracts, and the five-year rollout (2025–2030) goals for a 125,000-kilometre nationwide spine by 2027, focusing on 70 per cent web penetration by public-private partnerships.