Nigeria's $2 Billion Fibre Project Consultants to Earn $6.1 Million
Consultants working on Nigeria's ambitious national fibre-optic expansion project are set to receive a total of $6.1 million in contract fees, according to a World Bank procurement document. The fees will be distributed among seven consulting firms and five individual consultants involved in the Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth (BRIDGE) programme, a $2 billion initiative designed to significantly enhance Nigeria's broadband backbone and improve nationwide Internet access.
Details of the Consulting Contracts
The consulting contracts span several critical areas, including transaction advisory services, legal compliance, technical planning, and capacity development. These roles underscore both the complexity of the BRIDGE project and the Nigerian government's reliance on external expertise to execute this large-scale digital infrastructure endeavour.
The largest individual contracts are valued at $1.5 million each. One contract, for a transaction advisor, was officially signed on February 20, 2026. The other will fund university-led national digital economy research clusters, with procurement beginning in March 2026 and currently ongoing. These positions are expected to play pivotal roles in shaping the project's financial structuring and fostering a long-term innovation ecosystem.
Additional Advisory Roles and Procurement Status
Other advisory contracts cover essential implementation areas:
- A $750,000 contract for legal and regulatory compliance was signed on February 19, 2026, reflecting the necessity to navigate Nigeria's intricate regulatory landscape.
- An $850,000 allocation has been set aside for technical planning and infrastructure advisory services, though this procurement process, initiated in July 2025, remains unconcluded.
- Further contracts include $750,000 for environmental and social impact advisory, $300,000 for supply chain and procurement strategy, and $150,000 for a baseline skills and capacity needs assessment, alongside the design of a national training programme.
Most of these engagements are at various stages of procurement, indicating that the BRIDGE project is still in its preparatory phase. The project has also allocated $348,000 for five individual consultants. Notably, a contract for the BRIDGE implementation unit's project coordinator was signed on September 30, 2025, while two roles—a legal and administrative manager and a network planning and technical lead, valued at $72,000 and $96,000 respectively—have been cancelled. Contracts for a procurement lead and a grievance redress mechanism specialist are still in progress.
Project Background and Funding
Nigeria has intensified efforts to expand its fibre-optic network from approximately 35,000 kilometres to 125,000 kilometres. This expansion aims to improve connectivity in a country where broadband access remains uneven and often expensive. Nigeria missed its targeted 70 per cent broadband penetration set for December 2025, as outlined in the National Broadband Plan 2020-2025. The country ended 2025 with 51 per cent penetration, which currently sits at 53 per cent as of January 2026.
The procurement plan, covering July 2025 to December 2026, will be managed through the World Bank's Systematic Tracking and Exchanges in Procurement (STEP) platform. In line with procurement regulations revised in September 2023, this system will oversee all transactions to ensure transparency and compliance with international standards. For contracts targeting the domestic market, Nigeria's national procurement procedures may also apply.
Challenges and Financial Commitments
The advisory spending highlights the complexity of building a nationwide fibre backbone in Nigeria, where issues such as right-of-way charges, fragmented regulations, and infrastructure gaps have historically slowed broadband deployment. Analysts suggest that resolving these issues early could be crucial in attracting the private capital the project relies on.
To date, the BRIDGE programme has secured about $1.123 billion in commitments from development partners. The World Bank's concessional lending arm, the International Development Association, is providing $500 million under a pay-for-results model. Additionally, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has approved a $100 million investment, and the European Union has contributed €22 million (approximately $23.76 million).
Locally, the Federal Government has approved a $1 billion loan for the project as part of its 2025/2026 borrowing plan. The government is also seeking at least $1.1 billion from private investors, while institutions including the African Development Bank, the Africa Finance Corporation, and the Islamic Development Bank are in discussions to participate.
Funding Disbursement and Milestones
Funding from the World Bank will be released in stages based on project progress. An initial $6 million disbursement is expected in 2026 to help establish a special purpose vehicle that will manage the project. Further funding will depend on achieving specific milestones, such as the rollout of the first 5,000 kilometres of fibre and subsequent expansion targets that could reach up to 90,000 kilometres.
This comprehensive approach underscores Nigeria's commitment to overcoming digital infrastructure challenges and enhancing broadband accessibility across the nation.
