• The Federal Government's Project BRIDGE will add 90,000km of fibre cable to the existing network
• The project aims to potentially bringing high-speed internet closer to more homes and offices than ever before
• TheRadar has compiled a detailed guide on how to position yourself to benefit from the project

The Federal Government, through the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has announced plans to lay 90,000km of fibre-optic cable across the country under the Project BRIDGE.

The project aims to provide unlimited internet access everywhere, especially homes, offices, schools, and hospitals.

Project BRIDGE is a $2 billion infrastructure project designed to increase Nigeria's fibre backbone from 35,000km to over 125,000km.

The plan reportedly includes seven regional fibre rings connecting Nigeria's six geopolitical zones and Lagos, plus city-level loops feeding into smaller networks.

Meanwhile, the backbone reaching your state doesn't automatically mean the fibre will enter your street or your compound.

The last mile

This is what determines whether you are among the winners or the people that'll still be managing MiFi for another 3 years.

The federal government builds the big backbone, but the connection that'll reach your actual house or office is called "last mile" and it's handled by private ISPs and telcos.

The model says it's open access, which means smaller ISPs can now rent space on the main fibre line instead of building their own from scratch.

How ISPs choose where to lay cable

ISPs don't just enter anywhere anyhow. They follow money and demand.

Areas with:

• High population density (estates, gated communities, busy office clusters)
• Existing businesses that need fast, stable internet (co-working spaces, fintech offices, content creators)
• Good road access (fibre teams need to dig or lay cable along accessible routes)
• Landlords/estate management that cooperate (some estates block cable-laying because of "aesthetics")

So if you are house hunting, or you want to open a small business office, this is your cheat code.

5 ways to position yourself for the fibre wave

1. Check if your area already has fibre

If MTN, Airtel, Spectranet, or any smaller ISP already has a cabinet or pole in your street, that's a good sign. It means the infrastructure investment has started already; you just need an extension.

2. Estates and gated communities win faster

ISPs love estates because one cable can serve plenty of houses at once and cost less per customer for them. If you plan to relocate, an organised estate with active management can reach fibre faster than a scattered, individual-plot street.

3. Talk to your landlord

Some landlords reject cable-laying because they don't want "wire wire" on their fence or compound. If you're a tenant, start the conversation early. If you're a landlord, allowing access could literally increase your property's rental value.

4. Locate your business near commercial hubs

If you run a business, either content creation, POS/fintech agent, gaming café, or tech hub, being close to commercial zones (not just residential) increases your chances, because ISPs prioritise revenue-heavy areas.

5. Watch out for scam "fibre agents"

As the news spreads, expect people that'll come to collect money claiming that they can "fast-track" your fibre connection. Only deal with verified ISPs directly.

Why this matters for your money

The federal government has claimed that the rollout can reduce internet costs by up to 60 per cent and increase internet penetration to over 70 per cent. If even half of that is true, it means:

• Remote work and freelance hustle become smoother
• Content creators can upload/stream without problem
• Small businesses can finally run cloud-based tools, POS systems, and online stores without network excuses
• Property values in well-connected areas will increase

The 90,000km fibre rollout is one of the biggest digital infrastructure moves for Nigeria in recent memory. But like every major rollout early positioning will determine who benefits first.

The cable will pass many streets. The question is if your house will be one of the first, or you'll be among the people still complaining about the network in 2027?

Fix Nigeria’s network problems or face penalties, Bosun Tijani warns telecom operators

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Nigeria’s telecommunications operators, including MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, and T2, may face sanctions if they fail to improve network quality and service delivery, according to the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani.

Tijani stressed that telecom operators now have the resources and operating environment needed to address persistent network failures affecting Nigerians.

The Federal Government has secured World Bank-backed funding for nationwide fibre infrastructure under Project BRIDGE.