Nigeria and the European Union have taken a significant step toward deepening digital cooperation with the signing of a €45 million programme at the EU–Nigeria Digital Open Day in Brussels. The agreement, signed by Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, and the European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Síkela, completes the EU Digital Economy Package for Nigeria and reinforces both parties’ shared commitment to inclusive, sustainable digital transformation.
The new programme forms part of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, which focuses on building smart, secure, and people-centred digital infrastructure worldwide. According to Commissioner Síkela, the partnership is designed to unlock new opportunities by prioritising skills transfer, open standards, data protection, privacy, and security. These principles, he noted, ensure that digital technologies genuinely improve lives rather than simply expanding infrastructure.
At the heart of the agreement is strong support for Project Bridge, Nigeria’s most ambitious digital infrastructure initiative to date. The project aims to deploy 90,000 kilometres of fibre-optic backbone across the country, significantly expanding Nigeria’s connectivity footprint. Backed by loans from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the World Bank, and the African Development Bank, Project Bridge is positioned as a commercially sustainable, open-access network that can attract long-term private investment.
Dr. Tijani described Project Bridge as a critical entry point for European investors and suppliers, highlighting Nigeria’s policy alignment, growing demand, and expanding talent pool. He emphasised that Nigeria’s leadership in Artificial Intelligence, Digital Public Infrastructure, and initiatives such as the 3 Million Technical Talents programme creates a compelling environment for European businesses seeking scale and growth in Africa.
The €45 million grant will support Project Bridge in three complementary areas: detailed fibre network design, local skills development, and supply chain deployment through the mobilisation of EU private-sector expertise. Together, these components are expected to de-risk the project while ensuring that Nigerian professionals are equipped to build, operate, and maintain the infrastructure over the long term.
Beyond connectivity, the programme also targets the modernisation of Nigeria’s public administration. By supporting secure and user-friendly digital public services, the EU aims to improve efficiency, transparency, and citizen engagement across government operations. In parallel, targeted investments in digital skills will help train a new generation of technicians, engineers, and IT specialists—an essential foundation for job creation and innovation in a digitally driven economy.
The EU–Nigeria Digital Open Day was designed to give European investors and technology suppliers deeper insight into Nigeria’s digital ecosystem, with Project Bridge showcased as a flagship opportunity for collaboration. Once completed, the broader €1.7 billion Project Bridge initiative is expected to extend Nigeria’s total fibre network to 125,000 kilometres—an increase of 70 percent—making it the third-longest terrestrial fibre-optic infrastructure in Africa after Egypt and South Africa.
This latest agreement builds on the €820 million Digital Economy Package launched in 2022 under the Global Gateway framework. With Nigeria already home to Africa’s largest e-commerce market and six of the continent’s eight unicorns, the partnership signals growing confidence in Nigeria’s role as a digital powerhouse and a key driver of Africa’s technology-led growth.
