AfDB approves $200m loan to boost Nigeria’s digital backbone, jobs

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved a $200 million loan to support Nigeria’s digital infrastructure expansion and job creation under the Digital Value Chain Infrastructure for Boosting Employment (D‑VIBE) Project.

The initiative, also known as Project BRIDGE, aims to close connectivity gaps and strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy. It will expand the national fibre backbone from 30,000 kilometres to 120,000 kilometres, linking all 774 local government areas to high‑speed broadband.

The bank said that the loan would fund the Digital Value Chain Infrastructure for Boosting Employment (D-VIBE) Project, a flagship initiative aimed at closing connectivity gaps and strengthening Nigeria’s digital economy.

“Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and West Africa’s largest market, is expected to benefit from improved broadband access, productivity and employment under the project.

“The initiative will expand the country’s national fibre backbone from about 30,000 kilometres to approximately 120,000 kilometres, connecting all 774 Local Government Areas.

“The expanded network will link schools, health facilities, agro-industrial zones, rural communities and commercial hubs to high-speed broadband services.

“It will also establish cross-border fibre connections with Benin, Cameroon, Niger and Chad to boost regional digital integration,” it said.

Schools, health facilities, agro‑industrial zones, rural communities, and commercial hubs will benefit, alongside cross‑border fibre connections with Benin, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad.

Structured as a public‑private partnership, the project will combine sovereign financing with private investment.

The AfDB loan forms part of an $800 million package that includes $500 million from the World Bank and $100 million from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Additional support comes from EU grants and development partners, bringing total financing to $2 billion.

The project is expected to generate up to 2.8 million jobs and raise broadband penetration from 45% to 70% by 2030. AfDB Nigeria Office Director‑General Abdul Kamara said the investment would “make high‑speed connectivity a reality for every Nigerian community,” equipping young people with digital tools and addressing barriers to adoption through affordable devices, skills development, and cybersecurity measures.

The initiative aligns with Nigeria’s Vision 2050, National Development Plan, and Renewed Hope Agenda, as well as the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and AfDB’s 10‑Year Strategy for inclusive growth and sustainable development. (NAN)