In a move set to accelerate its digital ambitions, the Lagos State Government has locked in a $22 million foreign direct investment to extend its fibre‑optic backbone across the metropolis. The announcement came Monday at a ministerial briefing marking the second anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo‑Olu’s second term.
Engr. Olufemi Daramola, Special Adviser on Infrastructure, told reporters that the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA) clinched the financing as part of an expanded roll‑out plan. “We are building on the 3,000 kilometres of fibre that WTES has already laid,” he said, “and planning an additional 2,700 kilometres—now backed by this $22 million commitment—to bring reliable, high‑speed connectivity to every corner of Lagos.”
From Metro Fibre to Smart Cities
Earlier this year, the state entered Phase Two of its 3,300‑kilometre metro fibre rollout, supplementing the initial 2,700 kilometres completed since 2023. Those efforts have already spurred more than one million new internet subscriptions and opened service to previously underserved suburbs.
Alongside its fibre expansion, Lagos is advancing its Safe City Project, installing smart cameras and traffic‑management systems on key corridors such as Alapere and Allen Avenue. These measures—designed to enhance security and ease congestion—are powered by the same robust fibre network now being beefed up with fresh investment.
Broader Digital Blueprint
Governor Sanwo‑Olu has laid out an ambitious technology roadmap for 2025 and beyond. In addition to the 1,200‑kilometre fibre extension planned for this year, the state is building four data centres and intends to deploy a total of 6,800 kilometres of fibre by 2026.
Those facilities will underpin Lagos’s role as Africa’s leading tech hub, home to over 60 percent of Nigeria’s startups. In 2023 alone, these young companies attracted more than $1.2 billion in venture capital—a testament to the state’s innovative ecosystem.
With 450 smart surveillance cameras already live and 14 government agencies digitized for online services, Lagos is weaving connectivity into every aspect of urban life. The newly secured $22 million investment will not only stretch the reach of high‑speed internet but also empower businesses, schools, and healthcare providers to thrive in a digital economy.
As Engr. Daramola summarized, “This capital injection cements Lagos’s commitment to building world‑class digital infrastructure. We’re not just laying cables—we’re plugging our city into the future.”