The European Union has committed up to €14 million for preparatory work on Nigeria’s proposed 90,000-kilometre fibre-optic network, rather than construction of the entire network.
The grant will fund network design, technical studies, project preparation and capacity building. It will be administered by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Representatives of the Federal Government, the EU and the bank signed the agreement in Abuja, according to a Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning statement reported by Punch on Thursday. The ministry issued the statement on Wednesday.
Budget and Economic Planning Minister Atiku Bagudu said the support would include institutional development and knowledge transfer alongside the technical preparations. He said these would help Nigeria build the expertise needed to implement and sustain the infrastructure investment.
The planned fibre backbone is intended to extend broadband availability and access to digital services, including in underserved communities.
The budget ministry will coordinate the project and execute the grant agreement on behalf of the Federal Government. The Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy will oversee technical implementation through its project implementation units.
Source: Punch
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