EU Grants Nigeria €22M for Fibre-Optic Expansion

The European Union has approved a €22 million grant to support Nigeria's fibre-optic expansion under Project BRIDGE, aimed at deepening digital connectivity across the country. This grant, announced in Abuja, will be channeled through the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and on-granted to Nigeria's Nigeria===Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy. It complements an €86 million loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and is part of the European Union's Global Gateway strategy. The combined financing, potentially including support from the World Bank Group and African Development Bank, will establish a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to roll out 90,000 kilometers of fibre-optic networks. The SPV will have 51% private sector participation, aligning with the government's objective of crowding in private investment. The initiative also includes technical assistance for Low-Level Design work, capacity building for 2,000 technicians, and equipment subsidies, aiming to reduce rollout costs and promote participation by European technology vendors.