Nigeria to Gain from €150bn EU Initiative

Nigeria is set to be a key beneficiary of the European Union’s Global Gateway initiative, which aims to support infrastructural development by disbursing €150bn across Africa by 2027.

At a media briefing in Lagos, Massimo De Luca, Head of Cooperation, EU Delegation to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States, highlighted the initiative’s focus on digital transformation, climate and energy, transport, education, research, and health.

“The EU has projects in Nigeria and the region. Between 2021 and 2024, we implemented about €700m in cooperation in Nigeria alone,” De Luca said.

He emphasized that the EU and its member states remain Nigeria’s largest donor partners: “Global Gateway is a massive initiative, amounting to €300bn in financing, mostly for Africa but also for Latin America and Asia.”

De Luca explained that the Global Gateway initiative prioritizes investment over traditional aid programs: “Instead of just providing technical assistance, we focus on investments. These investments can come from either the private or public sector, as long as they are sustainable in the long term.”

He added that financing is a core aspect of the Global Gateway initiative: “We are not just giving grants or contracts. For a project to be viable, there must be a loan or equity, ensuring that someone is financially committed,” he explained.

The European Chamber of Commerce (EuroCham) in Nigeria will play a crucial role in attracting investors: “EuroCham aggregates European investors already present in Nigeria, helping to identify priority projects.”

The EU is also backing Nigeria’s digital transformation strategy, developed in collaboration with the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani.

“We are working closely with Minister Tijani on three key areas: deploying 90,000 km of fibre optic cables, establishing e-governance systems, and developing digital skills,” De Luca stated.

Regarding the fibre optic expansion project, De Luca noted that the private sector will drive it: “The government will establish a special purpose vehicle, but the funds must come from private investors. We are looking at ways to spur private sector participation, including a mix of grants and loans,” he said.

On e-governance, De Luca said, “We are working on protocols and infrastructure—software and hardware—to ensure interoperability in public administration.”

For digital skills development, he highlighted the EU’s partnership with GIZ on the Digital Transformation Centres programme: “Lagos is at the heart of this initiative, with a programme management unit and a digital skills hub at the University of Lagos called NitHub,” he said.

The EU is aligned with the ‘Three Million Technical Talents’ initiative: “We organise peer-to-peer activities to develop skills and progressively align with Minister Tijani’s agenda – 3MTT. We are looking at how we can certify skills through international certifications backed up by practical experience in the hubs that we support and through other mechanisms.”

Background Information

The European Union’s Global Gateway initiative is a big plan to support development in Africa, including Nigeria, with €150 billion by 2027.

It was announced by Massimo De Luca from the EU Delegation during a media briefing in Lagos.

Nigeria will benefit from areas like, internet with 90,000 km of fiber optic cables for faster and more reliable connections.

The initiative will improve e-government services by enhancing digital tools for government operations. It will also invest in job and skills training, focusing on digital education and training programs.

There will be support for green energy projects to promote renewable energy, while transportation infrastructure will be developed to improve travel and trade.

The initiative will strengthen healthcare services by investing in hospitals and medical facilities. Education and research will also receive funding to enhance schools and innovation programs.

Between 2021 and 2024, Nigeria has already received €700 million from the EU for various development projects. The initiative uses a mix of grants, loans, and investments, involving both public and private sectors to ensure success.