By Majeed Salaam
The European Union has committed up to €14 million in grant funding to support preparations for Nigeria’s planned 90,000-kilometre fibre-optic network, an infrastructure project expected to expand broadband access and strengthen the country’s digital economy.
The grant will finance network design, technical studies, project preparation and capacity building. It will not cover the full deployment of the proposed fibre-optic network, leaving the government with the task of securing the resources needed for nationwide construction.
The agreement was signed in Abuja by representatives of the federal government, the European Union (EU) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), according to a statement issued recently by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
“The initiative, supported by the EU 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 said.
The proposed network is intended to improve broadband availability, particularly in underserved communities, while expanding access to digital services and supporting businesses that depend on reliable internet connectivity.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, said the partnership would strengthen Nigeria’s digital infrastructure and contribute to economic development.
He noted that the intervention would extend beyond technical preparation to institutional development, knowledge transfer and capacity building.
Bagudu said “these components are essential for effective project implementation, for strengthening national expertise and for promoting the long-term sustainability of investments in digital infrastructure.”
Under the proposed arrangement, the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning will coordinate and oversee the project, while the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy will supervise its technical implementation.
The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Deborah Odoh, described the agreement as an important milestone in strengthening Nigeria’s digital infrastructure and institutional capacity.
She “reaffirmed the government’s commitment to transparent coordination, effective implementation, and sustained collaboration with development partners,” according to the statement.
Odoh stated that her ministry would execute the grant agreement on behalf of the Federal Government, while the communications ministry would manage technical implementation through its project implementation units.
The EU representative in Nigeria, Massimo De Luca, reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s digital transformation through investment and institutional cooperation. He called for sustained engagement among participating institutions to ensure timely implementation.
For Nigeria, the grant addresses an important early-stage requirement in delivering large-scale digital infrastructure. However, the project’s broader economic benefits will depend on the government’s ability to mobilise construction financing, coordinate implementation and extend connectivity to communities and businesses that remain underserved.
