Nigeria advances digital economy through cloud policy and fibre expansion

Nigeria is advancing several initiatives to overhaul its digital economy and telecommunications infrastructure. Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has unveiled the National Digital Cloud Policy, which aims to attract $750 million in private investment for cloud and data infrastructure over the next 24 months to establish the country as a West African hosting hub.

To support connectivity, the government plans to deploy 90,000 kilometers of open-access fibre infrastructure through Project BRIDGE, expanding the existing backbone to approximately 125,000 kilometers. Additionally, the federal government has launched a digital training academy designed to equip 32,000 citizens with skills in AI, cybersecurity, and software development.

In the telecommunications sector, the Telecoms and Technology Sustainability Working Group (TTSWG) has proposed a National Telecom Sustainability Index (NTSI). This framework would measure industry performance across five pillars: environment and energy, digital inclusion, digital integrity, infrastructure resilience, and local value creation. Meanwhile, experts have called for a shift in digital strategy to prioritize long-term investment over short-term revenue, citing high Right-of-Way charges and unreliable electricity as major barriers to broadband expansion.