*Unveils strategic 90,000km fibre rollout training with ITU

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

Nigeria’s ambitious $2 billion fibre optic expansion project has received a major boost as key global partners and stakeholders intensify efforts to drive the country’s digital transformation agenda.

In a significant step toward achieving this goal, the Digital Bridge Institute, DBI, in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union, ITU, has launched a strategic training programme aimed at equipping telecom regulators, policymakers, and industry players with the expertise required to support the planned 90,000-kilometre fibre optic rollout nationwide.

The five-day capacity-building programme, which commenced yesterday in Abuja, attracted participants from Nigeria and across sub-Saharan Africa, underscoring a broader commitment to deepening digital inclusion and strengthening broadband infrastructure in line with both national and global development priorities.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, described the initiative as timely and critical to Nigeria’s digital transformation drive.

“This capacity-building initiative reflects the growing recognition that robust and well-regulated fibre optic infrastructure is the foundation for any digital transformation agenda,” he said.

Represented by the Commission’s Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Engr. Abraham Oshadami, Maida disclosed that the Federal Government, through Project BRIDGE, is set to deploy an additional 90,000 kilometres of fibre cables across the country, targeting connectivity in all 774 local government areas.

He noted that the initiative is expected to stimulate economic growth and enhance service delivery in critical sectors such as education, healthcare, agriculture, and governance.

According to him, the training programme is closely aligned with the fibre expansion plan, as it is designed to build the human capacity needed to plan, deploy, and regulate such a large-scale infrastructure project.

“This programme will equip participants with the strategic insights and practical tools required to accelerate fibre rollout, improve regulatory efficiency, and strengthen collaboration across the ecosystem,” he added.

Despite the optimism, Maida identified key challenges hindering broadband expansion, including high right-of-way charges, bureaucratic bottlenecks, and infrastructure vandalism.

In his welcome address, the President/CEO of DBI, Mr David Daser, represented by the Director, Special Duties, Viola Askia-Usoro, described the programme as a major milestone in building the technical and regulatory expertise required to actualise Nigeria’s fibre ambitions.

“This programme represents a bold effort to bridge the digital divide and empower citizens to participate meaningfully in the global digital economy,” he said.

Daser explained that the training was deliberately structured to support large-scale initiatives such as the 90,000km fibre project, warning that infrastructure expansion without skilled manpower could limit the impact of such investments.

He added that the curriculum covers critical areas including fibre planning and deployment, regulatory frameworks, infrastructure sharing, and stakeholder engagement—key competencies for executing nationwide broadband projects.

Highlighting international collaboration, Daser said DBI’s partnership with ITU, with support from the European Union, demonstrates a shared commitment to building resilient, inclusive, and future-ready digital infrastructure across Africa.

“Our partnership with ITU has enabled us to host critical platforms such as the ITU Academy Training Centre and the Digital Transformation Centre, which are strengthening digital skills and expanding inclusive access,” he noted.

Also speaking, the Head of Section, Green and Digital Economy at the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Inga Stefanowicz, stressed the need for stronger partnerships and increased private sector participation to bridge infrastructure gaps.

She noted that large-scale projects like Nigeria’s fibre rollout require a combination of public funding, development finance, and private investment, adding that the European Union is supporting Nigeria through funding, technical assistance, and investment mobilisation.

The training programme comes amid renewed momentum for Nigeria’s fibre expansion, following fresh financial backing from development partners.

Over the weekend, the African Development Bank approved a $200 million loan to support the rollout under the Digital Value Chain Infrastructure for Boosting Employment (D-VIBE) initiative, also known as Project BRIDGE.

The project aims to expand Nigeria’s fibre backbone from about 30,000 kilometres to 120,000 kilometres, significantly boosting broadband penetration and extending connectivity to underserved communities across the country.