Meta’s 2Africa submarine cable to reach Nigeria in February

The US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, has confirmed that the highly anticipated 2Africa undersea cable, developed by Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is on track to reach Nigeria as early as February of this year.

Blinken expressed his affirmation of the cable project’s progress during the inauguration of the new American Corner in Lekki, Lagos. He highlighted the initiative as one of several ways that American companies are actively aiding President Bola Tinubu’s vision of generating one million digital jobs.

The 45,000 km 2Africa undersea cable, heralded as the world’s largest, is a groundbreaking project set to encircle the entire African continent upon completion. The cable is anticipated to make landfall in Lagos and Kwa Ibo, a river town in Nigeria’s southeast.

In his address, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken shed light on the significant contributions of American companies and the vested interests they hold in Nigeria’s economy.

“Now, what I’m seeing and what I’m feeling is that there is growing and significant American interest here in working in Nigeria, in investing in Nigeria, partnering with Nigerians. And we see many American companies, some of them present here, who are already working to help meet President Tinubu’s goal of one million digital jobs.

“The world’s largest subsea cable is on its way. It will reach Lagos next month.  And as I’ve looked at the numbers, more than a quarter of American venture capital coming to Africa is coming to Nigeria,” he said.

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However, the U.S. Secretary of State acknowledged that there are existing challenges that must be addressed in order to create a more attractive business environment in Nigeria. He emphasized that he had fruitful discussions with the Nigerian government’s leadership, during which he candidly addressed these concerns.

Strengthening partnerships

Blinken expressed his conviction that the establishment of American Corners in Nigeria would catalyze strengthening partnerships between the United States and Nigeria. He emphasized that this initiative would not only fuel further technological innovation but also play a pivotal role in driving the ongoing tech revolution.

“This place, this American Corner in Lekki, will, I believe, reinforce that incredibly vibrant relationship between our countries and between our peoples. Nigeria has more American Spaces than any other African country, 24 locations in 21 cities, 4,400 programs reaching 100,000 Nigerians every year, and now number 25.

“Here, courses on everything from learning how to code to how to write a business plan will be offered. Video recording, podcast studios, access to robotics equipment, and 3D printing will also be on offer.  This understanding of innovation and understanding that innovation is amplified by the connection that you all represent, is central to so much of what we’re doing.

“We have something we recently established with all of the countries bordering on the Atlantic, the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation, three dozen coastal Atlantic countries, including the United States, including Nigeria, working together to promote a stable, sustainable, prosperous Atlantic region,” he said.

According to his statement, the U.S. embassy in Nigeria is collaborating with the U.S. Congress to organize the Nigerian Marine and Blue Economy hackathon. He said the initiative aims to unite the government, private sector, and students in developing solutions to economic and environmental issues. For instance, participants will work towards addressing challenges such as plastic pollution and harnessing ocean currents to generate energy.