Weak Execution, Coordination Challenges Stall Nigeria’s Fibre Rollout

Nigeria’s fibre expansion drive is facing growing concerns, even as ambitious projects promise nationwide connectivity. While policymakers continue to push forward, industry stakeholders say the real challenge lies in execution, not ideas.

At a recent industry gathering in Lagos, experts pointed to a widening gap between policy design and real-world delivery. Although Nigeria aims to roll out over 90,000 kilometres of fibre under Project BRIDGE, progress remains uneven.

This disconnect, they argue, could slow the country’s broader digital ambitions.

Fibre expansion in Nigeria stalls despite big plans

The conversation around Nigeria fibre expansion has shifted. It is no longer about what should be done. Instead, it is about why things are not moving fast enough.

Stakeholders highlighted several long-standing issues. These include poor coordination across government levels, repeated infrastructure work, and delays in approvals. As a result, projects that should move quickly often drag on for months.

Omobayo Azeez, convener of the forum, stressed that Nigeria’s plans show clear ambition. However, he noted that execution gaps continue to hold progress back.

Meanwhile, industry leaders say the challenges go beyond policy. They argue that weak collaboration between stakeholders has created inefficiencies across the system.

Tony Emoekpere, President of ATCON, explained the situation clearly.

“Infrastructure deployment remains fragmented, inefficient and unnecessarily duplicative.”

Because of this, roads are often dug multiple times. Not only does this raise costs, but it also damages existing fibre networks.

The slow rollout of the National Dig-Once Policy has also raised concerns. The policy, introduced in 2022, aims to reduce repeated road excavation. However, implementation varies across states.

Olusola Teniola noted that inconsistent application weakens its impact. In many cases, operators still build separate infrastructure instead of sharing resources. This further increases costs and delays deployment.

Coordination issues deepen Nigeria fibre expansion challenges

Beyond policy delays, commercial interests are also playing a role. Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of ALTON, pointed out that competition among operators limits collaboration.

Even when sharing infrastructure makes sense, companies often choose to build independently. As a result, duplication continues.

At the same time, differences between federal and state priorities create another layer of complexity. Some state governments treat telecom infrastructure as a revenue source. This approach often clashes with long-term investment needs.

Kehinde Joda also raised concerns about regulatory overlap.

According to him, agencies sometimes issue conflicting requirements. In some cases, getting permits takes longer than the actual installation work.

These delays are not just technical issues. They have broader economic implications.

Experts say fibre infrastructure supports key sectors such as finance, healthcare, and education. Without reliable connectivity, growth in these sectors may slow.

Oluwasayo Oshadami emphasised this point, noting that stronger fibre networks would boost data usage and support digital services.

Despite the challenges, the importance of Nigeria fibre expansion cannot be overstated. Stakeholders agree that better coordination could unlock major economic gains.

However, without urgent action, the country risks falling behind in areas like artificial intelligence and cloud services. These sectors depend heavily on strong digital infrastructure.