The Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) on Monday commended the Federal Ministry of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE) for spearheading “Project Bridge,” a $2 billion initiative aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s digital backbone.
ATCON President, Mr. Tony Emoekpere, told Starreporters in Lagos that the project was an ambitious Public-Private Partnership (PPP) designed to connect all 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and local government areas through fibre-optic cables.
He explained that the initiative was not intended to replace existing infrastructure but to complement it by creating a more resilient and redundant network.
“Right now, most of the networks we have are linear in nature. Just imagine, if there’s only one road from Lagos to Ibadan; if anything happens to that road, you would not get to Ibadan. This project will create alternative routes,” Emoekpere said.
According to him, Project Bridge is being modelled after the PPP framework in the energy sector, with the government providing part of the funding through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), while the private sector contributes the rest.
He noted that the ultimate goal was to ensure uninterrupted services, even if one section of the network was compromised.
The ATCON president assured that telecom operators fully supported the initiative, stressing that it would enable them to extend services more effectively, especially in underserved locations.
“With this project, we will have multiple options,” he added.
Starreporters gathered that Project Bridge involves deploying 90,000 km of fibre-optic cables nationwide to expand digital infrastructure and boost connectivity as part of Nigeria’s National Broadband Plan.
The project, valued at $2 billion, is expected to enhance education, healthcare, and the wider digital economy.
(NAN)