The European Union (EU) has announced a €22 million grant to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to support the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy in deploying fibre-optic cables across Nigeria under the government-sponsored BRIDGE project.
According to a statement issued on Thursday, the EU grant will complement an €86 million loan from EBRD’s own resources. The loan is subject to final approval in the coming weeks.
This marks EBRD’s first high-profile sovereign operation since it began operations in Nigeria, following the inauguration of the country’s membership as a shareholder of the EBRD last year.
The EU said it is supporting Nigeria’s digital agenda through a digital package that includes interventions and support for infrastructure, digital public services and digital skills. This support forms part of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy.
The signing of the agreement took place during the visit of EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso to Nigeria.
Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosu Tijani, highlighted the progress being made on the project.
“We recognise this signing as an important part of our efforts to deliver Project BRIDGE on time. I am particularly grateful for our ongoing cooperation with the EU, and their commitment to a higher level of engagement this year. We look forward to ensuring that 2026 will be a year of delivery on this and other areas of cooperation with the EU,” Tijani said.
EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso also welcomed the development, describing it as a major step in strengthening digital infrastructure in Nigeria.
“We are proud to join forces with the EU to advance the deployment of digital infrastructure in Nigeria. This Technical Cooperation is strengthening a project designed to catalyse private sector investment and deliver inclusive, resilient and cyber secure connectivity across the country,” she said.
EU Ambassador Gautier Mignot described digital development as a key area of partnership between Nigeria and the EU.
“Digital has emerged as one of the strategic areas of partnership between Nigeria and the EU. Both Nigeria and the European Union share the critical importance of trusted and resilient networks, with the highest level of integrity and reliability, operating at the highest international standards.
“This is critical area for citizens and businesses alike where Nigeria is already fast becoming a world reference and a formidable country to partner with,” Mignot stated.
The €22 million EU grant is expected to complement sovereign loans that will also be provided by the EBRD, the World Bank (WB) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) to the Government of Nigeria. The funds will support the establishment and capitalisation of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to roll out 90,000 kilometres of fibre-optic networks under Project BRIDGE.
The EBRD is expected to provide an €86 million loan, equivalent to about US$100 million. The financing agreement will include conditions related to cybersecurity and open-access compliance.
The Technical Assistance under the project will finance the Low-Level Design (LLD) for the first approximately 40,000 kilometres of the network. This will include route and crossing surveys, digitised planning, quality assurance and security risk assessments. The standards will align with EU core digital principles to ensure secure connectivity.
The support will give the SPV a ready-to-deploy blueprint, allowing construction to begin immediately once financing arrangements are completed and the SPV is established with 51 per cent private sector participation.
In addition, the EU grant will accelerate Nigeria’s deployment and strengthen supply-chain capacity by training 2,000 technicians, providing targeted subsidies for equipment and supporting small subcontractors to access pooled procurement and volume discounts.
The EU said these measures are expected to lower rollout costs by an estimated 20 to 30 per cent, ensure compliance with EU and Nigerian quality standards and promote the involvement of the EU’s private sector, including EU Tech Vendors, in Nigeria’s fibre-optic supply chain.
