EU backs Nigeria’s 90,000km fibre rollout with €22m grant

The European Union has approved a €22 million grant to support Nigeria’s ambitious 90,000-kilometre fibre-optic expansion under Project BRIDGE, strengthening the Federal Government’s drive to deepen digital connectivity nationwide.

Announced in Abuja, the funding 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. The grant will complement an €86 million loan from the EBRD’s own resources, which is awaiting final approval.

The operation marks the EBRD’s first high-profile sovereign transaction in Nigeria since the country became a shareholder in the bank last year. The signing coincided with the visit of EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso to Nigeria.

Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, described the agreement as a major step toward timely delivery of Project BRIDGE.

“We recognise this signing as an important part of our efforts to deliver Project BRIDGE on time,” he said, expressing appreciation for the EU’s continued partnership and deeper engagement. “We look forward to ensuring that 2026 will be a year of delivery on this and other areas of cooperation with the EU.”

Renaud-Basso said the bank was pleased to join forces with the EU to advance Nigeria’s digital infrastructure, noting that the technical cooperation would help catalyse private sector investment and ensure inclusive, resilient and cyber-secure connectivity across the country.

The European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, described digital development as a strategic pillar of EU-Nigeria relations.

He stressed the shared commitment to trusted and resilient networks operating at the highest international standards, adding that Nigeria is fast becoming a formidable global partner in the digital space.

The €22 million grant is designed to complement sovereign loans expected from the EBRD, the World Bank and the African Development Bank to support the establishment and capitalisation of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that will oversee the fibre rollout.

The EBRD’s €86 million loan package is expected to include conditions related to cybersecurity and open-access compliance.

According to the EU, the grant combines technical assistance and an investment component aimed at accelerating project preparation and strengthening implementation capacity.

The technical assistance will finance low-level design work for the first 40,000 kilometres of the network, covering route and crossing surveys, digitised planning, quality assurance and security risk assessments aligned with EU digital standards.

Once financing arrangements are concluded and the SPV is established with 51 per cent private sector participation, the government expects construction to commence immediately using a ready-to-deploy blueprint.

Beyond infrastructure, the funding will support supply-chain development by training 2,000 technicians, providing targeted equipment subsidies and enabling small subcontractors to access pooled procurement and bulk discounts.

Officials estimate the measures could lower rollout costs by between 20 and 30 per cent, while ensuring compliance with both Nigerian and EU quality benchmarks and encouraging participation by European technology vendors in the fibre supply chain.