Nigeria has announced plans to complete a 90,000-kilometer fiber-optic network within three years, accelerating an infrastructure project that was initially planned to take five years. Despite Nigeria’s large and growing digital economy, significant gaps remain in internet usage. Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister for Communications, said the $2 billion initiative is intended to help close the country’s internet-access gap. According to him, the fiber network is central to the government’s goal of connecting 40 million people who currently lack internet access. The broader connectivity program also includes 3,700 telecommunications towers, which are expected to be completed within two years. Tijani said meaningful connectivity is essential if Nigerians are to benefit from emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. He also emphasized investment in local talent and digitizing the country’s economy and services as foundations for more inclusive AI development.