GITEX Nigeria: FG to Roll Out 90,000km Fibre-Optic Network in October to Secure Digital Sovereignty

GITEX Nigeria: FG to Roll Out 90,000km Fibre-Optic Network in October to Secure Digital Sovereignty

By Fom Gyem

The Federal Government says plan is underway to begin the rollout of a 90,000-kilometre nationwide fibre-optic network in October 2026 as part of efforts to secure digital sovereignty and drive the country’s Fourth Industrial Revolution agenda.

The announcement was made at the GITEX AI Nigeria 2026 summit in Abuja, where officials described the project as the backbone for artificial intelligence, data centres, digital identity and cloud services.

Delivering his keynote address, the Director-General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, said Nigeria must build indigenous capacity to lead in technology rather than remain a consumer of foreign platforms.

“The planned 90,000Km fibre-optic rollout is expected to significantly expand high speed internet access across the country and strengthen the infrastructure required to support digital services, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.

“Nigeria and Africa could no longer afford to miss the opportunities presented by the Fourth Industrial Revolution after missing out on the first, second and third industrial revolutions,” the DG said.

He challenged Nigerian startups to “develop their own algorithms and build artificial intelligence systems using locally relevant data rather than relying solely on existing AI platforms.”

He added that Nigeria must also develop the capacity to determine how its digital resources are used.

His words, “To achieve operational sovereignty and develop and own its own legal framework for the digital economy.”

Representing Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology,…