The European Union has announced a grant of €22 million aimed at bolstering Nigeria's extensive fibre-optic rollout as part of the Project BRIDGE initiative led by the Federal Government.
The grant was unveiled in Abuja on Wednesday and will be facilitated through the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which will subsequently transfer the funds to the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy. This funding is complemented by an €86 million loan from the EBRD, subject to final approval.
This financing initiative represents the EBRD's first significant sovereign operation in Nigeria since the country became a shareholder in the bank last year.
Bosun Tijjani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, hailed the agreement as a major achievement for the timely execution of the BRIDGE project. He emphasized that Nigeria's digital transformation relies on a resilient and inclusive broadband network.
He further remarked that this partnership indicates increasing global confidence in Nigeria’s digital strategy and expressed hope that 2026 would see tangible advancements in Nigeria-EU relations.
During her visit to Nigeria, EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso stated that the bank is excited to partner with the EU in enhancing digital infrastructure in Nigeria, the continent’s largest economy. She noted that this financing will include technical cooperation aimed at attracting private sector investment while ensuring safe and inclusive connectivity.
EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, underscored the critical importance of establishing high-integrity digital infrastructure maintained to international standards for both Nigeria and the EU.
The BRIDGE project plans to install 90,000 kilometers of fibre-optic cables across Nigeria through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), which will be funded by sovereign loans alongside private sector involvement. The Federal Government will also seek additional support from the World Bank and the African Development Bank.
The €22 million EU funding package will provide technical support and investment facilitation to expedite project preparations and enhance implementation efficiency. It will cover preliminary design work for roughly 40,000 kilometers of the proposed network, which entails route mapping, crossing surveys, digital planning, quality assurance, and security assessments aligned with global benchmarks.
Officials indicated that this preparatory stage will equip the SPV with an executable plan for a swift rollout once financing is secured and the entity achieves a minimum of 51% ownership from the private sector.
In addition to infrastructure improvements, the initiative is poised to strengthen Nigeria's digital skills landscape. Approximately 2,000 technicians will receive specialized training, while smaller subcontractors will benefit from collective procurement systems and equipment subsidies to lower entry obstacles.
Authorities project that these strategies might reduce deployment costs by 20 to 30 percent while promoting adherence to Nigerian and EU quality standards and fostering the involvement of European technology suppliers in the fibre supply chain.
This intervention is part of the EU's Global Gateway strategy, which aims to support investments in digital infrastructure, public services, and human capital development among its partner nations. For Nigeria, this alliance signifies renewed international support towards establishing a sturdy, open- access broadband network capable of propelling economic growth, innovation, and digital equity throughout the country.
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