The European Union has committed €22 million in grant funding to support Nigeria’s nationwide fibre-optic expansion, bolstering the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure under Project BRIDGE.
The funding, announced in Abuja on Wednesday, will be channelled through the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and on-granted to the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy for implementation of the initiative.
The grant will complement an €86 million sovereign loan from the EBRD’s own resources, subject to final approval. The transaction marks the bank’s first major sovereign financing in Nigeria since the country became a shareholder of the institution last year.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijjani, described the agreement as a significant milestone in delivering Project BRIDGE on schedule, emphasising that Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda hinges on resilient and inclusive broadband infrastructure.
He said the partnership demonstrates growing international confidence in Nigeria’s digital roadmap and expressed optimism that 2026 would usher in measurable progress in EU–Nigeria cooperation.
EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso, currently on an official visit to Nigeria, said the bank was proud to collaborate with the EU in expanding digital infrastructure in Africa’s largest economy. She noted that the financing package includes technical cooperation designed to attract private capital while ensuring secure, resilient and inclusive connectivity.
EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, underscored the strategic value of high-integrity digital networks built to international standards, stressing their importance to both Nigeria and the EU.
Project BRIDGE seeks to deploy 90,000 kilometres of fibre-optic cable nationwide through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to be capitalised with sovereign loans and private sector investment. In addition to EBRD support, Nigeria is expected to secure further financing from the World Bank and the African Development Bank.
The EU’s €22 million package combines technical assistance and investment support to accelerate project preparation and enhance implementation capacity. It will finance low-level design work for approximately 40,000 kilometres of the proposed network, including route mapping, crossing surveys, digital planning, quality assurance and security risk assessments aligned with global best practices.
Officials said this preparatory work would provide the SPV with a ready-to-execute blueprint, enabling rapid rollout once financing is finalised and the vehicle is established with at least 51 per cent private sector ownership.
Beyond infrastructure development, the grant will support digital capacity building. About 2,000 technicians are expected to receive specialised training, while small subcontractors will benefit from pooled procurement systems and equipment subsidies aimed at lowering market entry barriers.
Authorities estimate that these measures could reduce deployment costs by 20 to 30 per cent, while ensuring compliance with Nigerian and EU quality standards and encouraging participation of European technology suppliers in the fibre value chain.
The intervention aligns with the EU’s broader Global Gateway strategy, which promotes investments in digital infrastructure, public services and human capital development in partner countries.
For Nigeria, the agreement signals renewed international backing for its ambition to build a resilient, open-access broadband network capable of driving economic growth, innovation and digital inclusion nationwide.
