Nigeria and Burkina Faso Explore Project BRIDGE to Cut Internet Costs by 50%

Nigeria and Burkina Faso are exploring a connectivity partnership that could reduce the cost of internet access in Burkina Faso by as much as 50%, as both countries seek to deepen digital cooperation.

Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, said the initiative was discussed during his visit to Ouagadougou, where he met Burkina Faso’s Minister for Digital Transition, Posts and Communication, Dr Aminata Zerbo-Sabané.

At the centre of the discussions was Project BRIDGE, Nigeria’s connectivity initiative aimed at expanding access to faster, more affordable and resilient internet infrastructure.

Under the proposed collaboration, technical teams from both countries will assess connectivity routes linking Nigeria to Burkina Faso through Nigeria-Niger-Burkina Faso and Nigeria-Benin-Burkina Faso corridors. The assessment is expected to identify a viable pathway for lowering Burkina Faso’s internet connectivity costs by up to half.

The two countries also agreed to establish a Technical Working Committee to develop an implementation framework for the partnership.

The cooperation will extend beyond fibre infrastructure to other areas of the digital economy. Nigeria and Burkina Faso plan to explore collaboration on digital skills and talent development, including the potential sharing of Nigeria’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) model.

The countries will also seek to strengthen ties between their startup ecosystems, support Burkina Faso’s Innovation Campus and collaborate on artificial intelligence, local-language technologies, shared computing infrastructure, cybersecurity and research.

Tijani said the engagement forms part of Nigeria’s broader outreach to neighbouring countries, following a recent visit to Benin Republic, with planned engagements in Niger and Chad.

The Nigerian government said the broader objective is to leverage the country’s expanding digital infrastructure and capabilities to support shared economic opportunities across borders, strengthen regional digital integration and position Nigeria as a digital gateway connecting West Africa and the Sahel.