Nigeria Secures €14 Million EU Grant to Prepare 90,000-Km Fiber-Optic Expansion
October 19th 2026
- The EU grant will fund network design, technical studies and institutional support, not fiber construction.
- Nigeria plans to expand its fiber-optic network from 35,000 km to 125,000 km and connect all 774 local government areas.
- The BRIDGE project has also secured financing commitments from the EBRD and World Bank.
The European Union (EU) has signed a grant agreement with Nigeria worth up to €14 million ($15.8 million) to support preparations for the deployment of 90,000 kilometers of fiber-optic infrastructure across the country. Administered by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the funding will cover network design, technical studies and capacity building for the government agencies involved. It is intended to prepare the project for implementation rather than finance construction of the entire network.
The agreement was signed in Abuja on October 14, 2026, by representatives of Nigeria’s federal government, the EU and the EBRD. It forms part of the BRIDGE project, launched in August 2025, which aims to expand the country’s fiber-optic network from approximately 35,000 kilometers to 125,000 kilometers and connect all 774 local government areas.
The program is designed to improve access to reliable, affordable high-speed internet, particularly in underserved areas. The additional fiber infrastructure is expected to extend network coverage and improve connectivity in communities where broadband access remains limited. The EU grant will also support knowledge transfer and institutional capacity building. These activities are intended to help the relevant government agencies develop the technical and administrative expertise needed to prepare, oversee and support the project’s implementation.
A Project Backed by Several Financing Partners
Beyond expanding the country’s fiber-optic infrastructure, the BRIDGE project aims to make telecommunications networks more accessible to internet service providers.
Access to a shared national fiber network could reduce providers’ dependence on infrastructure controlled by established telecom operators and allow them to use alternative routes to deliver connectivity. These additional routes are also expected to improve network resilience. When a fiber cable is damaged or a connection is interrupted, alternative routes could help reduce service disruptions and maintain internet connectivity.
The project’s financing needs extend well beyond the €14 million grant announced in October 2026. Several international financial institutions have already committed support to the initiative. In February 2026, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Bosun Tijani, announced $100 million in financing from the EBRD for the BRIDGE project. The World Bank has separately approved $500 million in financing.
The World Bank funding is expected to be disbursed in stages, depending on the project’s progress and the achievement of specific deployment milestones. These include the installation of 25,000 kilometers of fiber, followed by a further milestone at 65,000 kilometers. The EU had also announced a €45 million agreement in December 2025 to support Nigeria’s digital economy, including €22 million earmarked for the BRIDGE project.
However, the available information does not establish whether the newly announced €14 million grant forms part of that earlier €22 million allocation, represents separate financing or constitutes another form of EU support.
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