World
EU Grants €22M to EBRD for Nigeria’s BRIDGE Fibre-Optic Project
By Linda Ike
The European Union (EU) has announced a €22 million grant to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to be passed on to Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.
This funds fibre-optic cable deployment under the government-backed BRIDGE project, pairing with an €86 million EBRD loan pending final approval.
Marking EBRD’s first major sovereign deal in Nigeria since the country’s shareholder membership last year, the initiative aligns with the EU’s Global Gateway strategy. It supports infrastructure, digital public services, and skills development.
The signing coincided with EBRD President, Odile Renaud-Basso’s visit to Abuja.
Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani commended the progress: “This is key to delivering Project BRIDGE on time. We’re grateful for the EU’s deeper commitment this year and aim for major wins in 2026.”
EBRD’s Renaud-Basso added: “We’re thrilled to team up with the EU to drive digital infrastructure, sparking private investment for inclusive, resilient, cyber-secure connectivity.”
EU Ambassador Gautier Mignot emphasised, “Digital is a core Nigeria-EU partnership pillar. We share goals for trusted, high-standard networks, Nigeria’s becoming a global leader here.”
The grant bolsters loans from EBRD €86M/US$100M equivalent, World Bank, and African Development Bank to create a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for 90,000km of fibre networks.
It mandates cybersecurity and open-access rules.Funds split into Technical Assistance for the first ~40,000km’s Low-Level Design, including surveys, digital planning, quality checks, and security assessments aligned with EU principles and an Investment Grant.
This blueprint lets construction start once the SPV launches with 51% private sector stake.
It also trains 2,000 technicians, subsidizes equipment, and aids small subcontractors through bulk procurement, slashing rollout costs 20-30%, enforcing EU/Nigerian standards, and drawing EU tech vendors into the supply chain.