The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved a $200 million loan to expand Nigeria’s digital infrastructure and drive job creation.
In a statement released on its website on Saturday, the bank confirmed that the funding would support the Digital Value Chain Infrastructure for Boosting Employment (D-VIBE) Project – a flagship initiative designed to close connectivity gaps and strengthen the nation’s digital economy.
Under the project, Nigeria – Africa’s most populous country and West Africa’s largest market – is expected to see significant improvements in broadband access, productivity, and employment. The initiative will expand the national fibre backbone from approximately 30,000 kilometres to 120,000 kilometres, connecting all 774 Local Government Areas.
The expanded network will link schools, health facilities, agro-industrial zones, rural communities, and commercial hubs to high-speed broadband. Cross-border fibre connections with Benin, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad will also be established to enhance regional digital integration.
D-VIBE, also known as Project BRIDGE, is structured as a public-private partnership through a Special Purpose Vehicle. Public-sector ownership will range from 25 to 49 per cent, while private-sector participation will account for 51 to 75 per cent.
The AfDB loan is part of an $800 million sovereign financing package, which includes $500 million from the World Bank and $100 million from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Total project financing is estimated at $2 billion, supplemented by private sector investments and development partners. Additional support includes a €22 million grant from the European Union and a $2.6 million project preparation grant from the Multilateral Cooperation Centre for Development Finance.
The project is expected to generate up to 2.8 million jobs over its lifecycle and raise Nigeria’s broadband penetration from 45 per cent to approximately 70 per cent by 2030.
Abdul Kamara, Director-General of the AfDB’s Nigeria Office, said: “From the north to the south, from farms to factories to classrooms, this investment will make high-speed connectivity a reality for every Nigerian community.”
He added that the initiative would equip young Nigerians with digital tools to build sustainable livelihoods, while addressing barriers to digital adoption through affordable devices, large-scale skills development, support for digital platforms, cybersecurity measures, enhanced market competition, and renewable energy use to ensure resilience and sustainability.
The project aligns with Nigeria’s Vision 2050, the National Development Plan, the Renewed Hope Agenda, and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. It also supports the AfDB’s 10-Year Strategy (2024–2033), which prioritises inclusive growth and sustainable development across the continent.
