Lagos Secures $22M FDI to Expand 2,700km Fibre Network, Warns on Vandalism Theft

Lagos State has secured a $22 million foreign direct investment (FDI) to scale up its fibre optic network by an additional 2,700 kilometres.

Aiming to strengthen digital infrastructure and laying the groundwork for a smarter, more connected city, the deal, facilitated by the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA), was revealed by Engr. Olufemi Daramola, special adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure, during a press briefing marking Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.

We’re looking at an innovative initiative where Lagos is setting itself up to become a digital backbone not just for Nigeria, but for West Africa. With 3,000km of fibre ducts already laid, 2,700km more incoming, there’s a wider rollout plan targeting 6,800km in total.

“In the same vein, the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance Agency (LASIMRA) has also made significant boost in the state’s investment in Fibre Duct Expansion: with an additional 2,700km installations planned, building on 3,000km completed by WTES, to enhance connectivity while also securing a commitment of $22 million foreign direct investment for quality fibre installations in Lagos State,” Daramola stated.

Beyond the cables and trenches, what’s at stake is how this investment impacts the socioeconomic blueprint of Lagos. A larger fibre footprint means greater broadband access in underserved areas, where connectivity has long been a luxury. 

Between 2023 and 2025 alone, over a million new internet subscriptions were recorded as fibre access deepened.

But the government is not looking at just faster internet speeds, it wants to build a fully digitised city. Lagos is already deploying smart surveillance and traffic enforcement systems across areas like Alapere and Allen Avenue, bringing tech into public safety and traffic control. 

Over 450 smart cameras are already operational, and 14 state agencies have digitised their services, early indicators of a state rewiring its governance model for the future.

In 2023, Lagos drew over $1.2 billion in startup investments, three-quarters of Nigeria’s total funding for tech startups. And with four data centres under construction and plans for an additional 1,200km of fibre in 2025, it’s evident that this is a digital ecosystem in the making.

“We are advancing the Safe City Project, extending our fibre optic backbone, and investing in critical infrastructure, not just for today but to prepare Lagos for the digital future,” another official noted at the briefing.

But none of this comes easy. The state has warned against infrastructure vandalism and theft, risks that have cost millions in the past. New measures include using composite materials for manhole covers and handrails to deter theft.

The vision fits into the THEMES+ Agenda, Sanwo-Olu’s roadmap for making Lagos a resilient, inclusive, and globally competitive megacity.

This includes the rehabilitation of 1,163 roads since 2023 and the transformation of the Lagos State Public Works Corporation from mere maintenance to full-scale road construction.

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