• AfDB approves $200 million loan to expand Nigeria’s fiber network

• Project aims to extend coverage nationwide and boost broadband access

• Initiative targets jobs, digital adoption, and long-term economic growth

The African Development Bank has approved a $200 million loan to support Nigeria’s plan to expand its national fiber-optic network and accelerate its digital transformation, the institution said on April 10.

The funding is part of the D-VIBE (Digital Value Chain Infrastructure for Broadband Expansion) project, a flagship government initiative designed to increase the country’s fiber network from 30,000 to 120,000 kilometers. The goal is to connect all 774 local government areas, including schools, health centers, farming zones, and rural communities, while strengthening cross-border links with neighboring countries such as Benin, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad.

Estimated at $2 billion, the project is structured as a public-private partnership. It will be implemented through a dedicated vehicle in which the public sector holds between 25% and 49%, with the private sector owning the remaining 51% to 75%. Alongside the AfDB, financing includes $500 million from the World Bank and $100 million from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, as well as contributions from international partners and private investors.

Beyond infrastructure rollout, D-VIBE aims to address key barriers to digital adoption. The project includes large-scale digital skills development, efforts to make devices more affordable, and support for digital platforms in sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and education. It also incorporates measures on cybersecurity, competition regulation, and the use of hybrid energy systems to improve network resilience.

The initiative comes as Nigeria, West Africa’s largest market, looks to capitalize on the growing role of the digital economy in its GDP. Under its National Broadband Plan 2020–2025, the country had set a target of 70% broadband penetration by the end of 2025. However, data from the Nigerian Communications Commission shows internet penetration reached 50.58% in November 2025—reflecting progress, but still short of the original goal.

Under current projections, the project could help raise broadband penetration to around 70% by 2030 and support the creation of nearly 2.8 million jobs over its lifetime. For authorities and their partners, the aim is to turn connectivity into a driver of productivity, inclusion, and long-term economic growth.

Samira Njoya