Nigeria, EU, and EBRD sign €14m grant for fibre-optic network

The Federal Government of Nigeria, the European Union (EU), and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) have signed a €14 million grant agreement to develop a nationwide fibre-optic backbone. The agreement, signed in Abuja, aims to support the deployment of approximately 90,000 kilometres of fibre-optic infrastructure across the country.

The funding will be used for project scoping, network design, project preparation, and capacity-building activities. Beyond technical infrastructure, the initiative focuses on institutional development and knowledge transfer to ensure the long-term sustainability of digital investments. The project is intended to expand affordable broadband access, strengthen digital services, and accelerate Nigeria’s digital transformation and inclusive economic growth.

Senator Atiku Abubakar Bagudu, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, noted that the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning will provide oversight, while the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy will handle technical implementation.