The Federal Government and the World Bank are planning to invest $3bn on an additional 120,000km of fibre optic cables to improve broadband infrastructure and connectivity in the country.

The Minister of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani disclosed during a stakeholders’ engagement themed ‘broadband for all,’ organised by his ministry in collaboration with the World Bank.

Tijani said the initiative also involved stakeholders from the private sector and was expected to be delivered within the next three years.

The minister said it had become imperative to seek investments in the nation’s digital backbone to make the cost affordable to all Nigerians.

“We are here with critical stakeholders on how to attract investments and fund our broadband infrastructure. I’m sure everybody listening to me understands that we cannot do without technology and the internet; we all need quality access regardless of our location.

“There’s a need for us to invest in that databank. So, it’s the kind of thing that we call the telecommunications infrastructure, or in some cases, we call the fibre optic cables. There’s a cable that helped us make it possible for the internet to happen,” Tijani said.

He noted that Nigeria had already laid about 3,035km of fibre optic cables, but about 120,000km of fibre optic cables would be required for Nigerians to have quality and efficient access to the internet and other digital services irrespective of their locations.

He added that in terms of funding, the country would require $3bn to fix infrastructure. He, however, expressed optimism that through the World Bank, other development finance institutions and the private sector, there was hope that the funds would be raised within the next two to three years.

In his remarks, the World Bank Regional Director, (Infrastructure) West and Central Africa, Franz Gross, said the first phase of the project would involve laying 95,000km of fibre optic cables across Nigeria.

According to Gross, this would improve access and digital services content in the country.

“We plan to set up a digital national broadband fund and to roll out about 95,000 kilometres of what we call middle mile cable. That’s terrestrial cable in Nigeria to bring broadband to more parts of the country.

“I think Nigeria has about 35,000 kilometres of broadband cable. The idea is to add another 95,000, and what we’re discussing with the government is, well, what’s the best way to finance that?

“I want to say that rolling out fibre is part of the problem. What you want is fibre to bring low-cost digital access all over the country. You want to at the same time, invest in digital skills so that people have the wherewithal to get online and to use effectively and then generate digital content,” he added.