EU to invest €290m to boost digital and agricultural sectors in Nigeria. The European Union has announced a €290 million investment package aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s economy and expanding cooperation in areas such as digital infrastructure, healthcare manufacturing, agriculture, and migration management. The funding was unveiled during the eighth Nigeria–EU ministerial dialogue in Abuja, co-chaired by Yusuf Tuggar and Kaja Kallas. Officials said the initiative forms part of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, designed to build stronger economic ties and support long-term development.
The largest share of the investment, €131 million, is allocated to the digital sector. The programme will expand internet connectivity and modernize digital services across the country. Plans include deploying about 90,000 kilometres of fibre-optic cables, which could provide internet access to roughly 33 million Nigerians. Beyond infrastructure, the initiative aims to strengthen digital public systems and nurture the local tech workforce, a step seen as critical for Nigeria’s long-term competitiveness.
In healthcare, the European Investment Bank (EIB) partnered with the Bank of Industry (BoI) Nigeria to provide €50 million for local manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, vaccines, diagnostics, and medical devices. Olasupo Olusi, Managing Director of BoI, called the agreement transformative, noting that it represents a shift from Nigeria being primarily an importer to a competitive producer of medical products. Ambroise Fayolle, EIB Vice-President, highlighted the broader impact on national health security and the resilience of supply chains.
Agriculture will also receive significant support. A €85 million package is earmarked for boosting value chains, particularly in cocoa and dairy production. The funding targets improvements in productivity, supports smallholder farmers, and strengthens agribusinesses. EU Commissioner Jozef Sikela emphasized that the investment will help Nigeria reduce import dependence while scaling domestic production.
Migration management receives €16 million from the package, focused on reintegrating returnees and combating human trafficking. Kaja Kallas stressed the strategic importance of the partnership in the current geopolitical climate and noted the EU’s interest in a stronger, long-term relationship with Nigeria.
Officials linked the investments to wider continental goals, including the African Union’s target of producing 60 percent of vaccines locally by 2040 and supporting regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework. Since 1978, the EIB has invested over €2.3 billion in Nigeria, contributing to infrastructure, climate resilience, innovation, and small business growth. This new package signals a continuation of that long-term engagement while addressing immediate development priorities.
