Project BRIDGE has secured significant international financing commitments, including a $100 million investment from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), marking a major milestone in Nigeria’s push to expand nationwide digital connectivity.
The approval by the EBRD Board follows a series of high-level engagements across Europe aimed at mobilizing strategic partnerships and funding support for the ambitious infrastructure initiative. The new commitment adds to the $500 million financing earlier approved by the World Bank, further strengthening the project’s capital base and signaling strong international confidence in its long-term viability.
In parallel, the European Union has signed a €45 million Digital Economy Package to support Nigeria’s broader digital transformation agenda. Of this amount, €22 million has been allocated as a grant to Project BRIDGE. The remaining funds include €18 million dedicated to strengthening Digital Public Services and €5 million to support the government’s 3MTT Nigeria Programme, a skills development initiative aimed at building digital capacity.
Project BRIDGE is designed to deploy approximately 90,000 kilometers of fibre-optic cable across Nigeria, dramatically expanding broadband access and improving the reliability and speed of internet connectivity nationwide. The large-scale rollout is expected to reduce the cost of internet access, close connectivity gaps between urban and rural areas, and stimulate growth in key sectors such as technology, education, healthcare, financial services, and small business development.
Industry observers note that the blend of concessional financing and grant funding is critical for infrastructure of this scale, particularly in emerging markets where upfront capital requirements are substantial. The involvement of multilateral development institutions such as the EBRD and the World Bank not only provides financing but also enhances governance, transparency, and project oversight standards.
Officials involved in the investment tour described the approvals as a culmination of extensive negotiations and technical discussions held over two weeks across six European countries. The agreements are expected to accelerate implementation timelines and position Nigeria as a leading digital economy hub on the African continent.
With financial backing now exceeding $600 million, Project BRIDGE moves into its next phase focused on execution, procurement, and phased nationwide deployment — a development stakeholders say could redefine Nigeria’s digital landscape for decades to come.