Nigeria to Spend $6.1M on Fibre Project Advisors

Nigeria will spend $6.1 million on consultants to support the rollout of its national fibre expansion project, according to a procurement report released on March 17.

The spending is part of the Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth (BRIDGE) Project, a $2 billion plan backed by the World Bank to expand broadband infrastructure across the country.

At the centre of the project is a major scale-up. Nigeria aims to grow its fibre-optic network from 35,000 kilometres to 125,000 kilometres. If achieved, that would significantly improve internet access nationwide.

To get there, however, the government is leaning on external expertise. The consulting contracts cover transaction advisory, legal compliance, technical planning and capacity development.

Two of the largest contracts are valued at $1.5 million each. One, signed in February, covers transaction advisory. The other will fund university-led research clusters focused on the digital economy, with procurement still ongoing.

Elsewhere, a $750,000 contract for legal and regulatory support has already been signed. That reflects the complexity of navigating Nigeria’s telecoms and infrastructure rules. At the same time, $850,000 has been set aside for technical planning, though that process is yet to be finalised.

Additional roles include environmental and social advisory, supply chain strategy and skills development. Together, these contracts suggest the project is still in its early stages.

The plan also includes about $348,000 for individual consultants working within the project team. While some roles have been filled, others remain open or have been cancelled.

Even so, the consulting spend is relatively small compared with the overall project cost. In practice, such early-stage work is critical. Large infrastructure projects often require detailed planning, regulatory alignment and impact assessments before construction can begin.

Funding for the project is already taking shape. The World Bank’s International Development Association is providing $500 million, while the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Union have also committed funds. On the domestic side, the federal government has approved a $1 billion loan.

Disbursement will be tied to results. An initial $6 million is expected in 2026 to set up a special purpose vehicle to oversee the rollout, with further funding linked to fibre deployment milestones.