Yemisi Izuora
Twelve million people in Nigeria would soon begin to enjoy enhanced internet access following a grant deployed by the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) to Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy (FMCIDE).
The grant is to enable a feasibility study aimed at enhancing Internet access for 12 million people through the deployment of new fiber optic backbone infrastructure.
To conduct the study, FMCIDE has chosen HIP Consult Inc., based in Washington, D.C.
“As Nigeria and the United States deepen our cooperation in the technology sector, USTDA is proud to partner with FMCIDE to deliver concrete action in support of our shared digital infrastructure goals,” said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA’s director.
According to a joint statement, the study will support Nigeria’s National Broadband Plan 2020-2025, particularly its targets to increase the country’s broadband penetration rate from the current 42.27 per cent to 70 per cent and to ensure that at least 90 per cent of the population has access to affordable, reliable broadband coverage.
Moreover, the study will assess the deployment of at least 90,000 kilometers of new fiber optic backbone infrastructure along existing routes of the national power grid, railways, roads, and oil and gas pipelines.
The feasibility study aims to enhance Internet access for 12 million people in Nigeria through the deployment of new fiber optic backbone infrastructure.
Furthermore, the study will identify gaps in the backbone infrastructure market and develop strategies to bridge those gaps, strengthening connectivity across Nigeria, including to underserved and hard-to-reach communities.
“I am pleased to receive this grant from USTDA to fund this feasibility study, which is a critical component of our plan to deploy 90,000 kilometers of fiber optic cable across Nigeria,” said FMCIDE Minister Dr. Bosun Tijani.
US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell noted that the two countries working together on the project will enhance Internet access for millions of Nigerians and create opportunities for US businesses to contribute their expertise and innovative solutions.
“This collaboration underscores our commitment to fostering economic growth and digital inclusion in Nigeria,” Campbell explained.
The Nigerian feasibility study comes as other countries have signed digital transformation agreements with international companies.
To finance the SMART Sierra Leone Project, the government secured a US$50 million agreement with China National Technical Import & Export Corporation in September 2024.
In the same month, the country signed an agreement with Huawei Group to support the Digital Village Project.
In June 2024, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and tech firm Intel partnered to equip 3 million Africans and 30,000 government officials with advanced artificial intelligence (AI) skills.
The UK’s development finance institution, British International Investment (BII), signed financing agreements in May 2024 to support Senegal and Tanzania’s telecommunication infrastructure plans.
The government of Gabon secured a $68.5 million loan from the World Bank for the Digital Gabon Project at the beginning of 2024.