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The European Union EU has committed a grant of up to €14 million to bolster Nigeria’s ambitious digital infrastructure roadmap, specifically targeting the planned deployment of 90,000 kilometres of fibre-optic cables nationwide.

The funding package is designed to underwrite comprehensive network design, project preparation, technical feasibility studies, and institutional capacity building as the federal government moves to bridge connectivity gaps and accelerate the growth of the digital economy.

The formal agreement was finalized and signed in Abuja during a ceremony involving representatives of the Federal Government, the European Union, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

According to an official statement issued on Wednesday by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, the financial assistance will be directly administered by the EBRD to lay the foundational framework for the expansive backbone project.

“The initiative, supported by the European Union and administered by the EBRD, provides up to €14m in funding for project scoping, fibre-optic network design, project preparation, and capacity-building activities for Nigeria’s nationwide fibre-optic backbone programme,” the ministry stated.

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The nationwide fibre deployment is projected to significantly enhance high-speed internet availability, empower micro and macro enterprises, and extend reliable digital services to traditionally underserved rural and peri-urban communities across the federation.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, emphasized that the strategic partnership will profoundly strengthen Nigeria’s technological capabilities and drive inclusive economic development.

Bagudu noted that the scope of the EU intervention extends well beyond physical and technical preparation, incorporating vital elements of knowledge transfer, institutional development, and specialized training.

“These components are essential for effective project implementation, for strengthening national expertise, and for promoting the long-term sustainability of investments in digital infrastructure,” Bagudu stated.

Under the implementation framework, the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning will maintain overall coordination and oversight of the project, while the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy will directly supervise technical execution through dedicated project implementation units.

Echoing these remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Deborah Odoh, described the agreement as a critical milestone in fortifying the nation’s digital backbone.

Odoh reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to ensuring transparent coordination, efficient resource utilization, and enduring collaboration with international development partners.

Representing the bloc during the event, Massimo De Luca, the European Union representative in Nigeria, underscored the European Union’s firm commitment to advancing Nigeria’s digital transformation journey through targeted investments and robust institutional cooperation.

De Luca urged all participating agencies and stakeholders to maintain active, sustained engagement to guarantee the timely and seamless execution of the project.

While the €14 million grant specifically finances foundational preparatory studies, technical scoping, and capacity-building initiatives rather than the physical construction of the entire 90,000-kilometre network, officials view the funding as a crucial catalyst for unlocking subsequent public and private investments required to achieve universal broadband penetration.

The Traffic NG
EU
Hibbatullah Shittu
The Traffic NG

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