Tech executives, government officials, and key stakeholders in Nigeria’s digital economy are set to convene at the eighth edition of the Policy Implementation Assisted Forum to advance discussions on a National Dig-Once Policy, a framework designed to accelerate the country’s fibre-optic infrastructure expansion.

The forum is scheduled for Thursday, 16 April 2026, at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, and will bring together leaders from the telecommunications, infrastructure, and technology sectors to coordinate efforts around the Federal Government’s $2bn Project BRIDGE initiative. The project aims to expand Nigeria’s national fibre network from 35,000 kilometres to 125,000 kilometres by 2030.

Themed ‘Accelerating Nigeria’s Digital Backbone: Dig Once Policy, Project BRIDGE and Strategies for Effective Fibre Deployment’, PIAFo 8.0 will focus on addressing challenges such as repeated fibre cuts during road construction, high Right of Way charges, and uncoordinated civil works that have historically slowed network expansion.

According to the Nigerian Communications Commission, more than 50,000 fibre cuts were recorded nationwide in 2024, with over 60 per cent occurring during roadworks. Telecom operators in Lagos alone spent over N5bn that year to repair damaged infrastructure, underscoring the urgency of a coordinated Dig-Once framework.

Team Lead at Business Metrics Limited, Omobayo Azeez, organiser of the forum, said the event provides a platform for stakeholders to align on actionable strategies that will safeguard Project BRIDGE and fast-track national connectivity goals.

“Project BRIDGE represents an ambitious leap for Nigeria’s digital infrastructure. To fully leverage the country’s high-capacity undersea cable networks, we need a Dig-Once policy that ensures safe, cost-effective, and coordinated fibre deployment across public infrastructure projects,” Azeez said.

PIAFo 8.0 will feature keynote addresses, expert panel discussions, and networking sessions designed to strengthen collaboration among federal, state, and local authorities, telecom operators, infrastructure companies, data centre operators, and equipment manufacturers.

The forum continues PIAFO’s mission of bridging the gap between policy formulation and implementation, providing a high-level platform for practical solutions to Nigeria’s broadband and digital infrastructure challenges.