10/12/25 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 9 December, the European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Síkela, announced a €45 million grant to support the deployment of a vast fibre optic network in Nigeria. This funding from the European Union will enable the project to be prepared through technical assistance, the detailed design of the network, the development of local skills and the mobilisation of the European private sector for the supply chain. Supported by the Global Gateway investment initiative, the project aims to install more than 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable across the country in order to connect homes, businesses, schools and hospitals. Eventually, over 70% of the population should be able to benefit from fast, reliable Internet access. The initiative is also supported by loans from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the World Bank and the African Development Bank. (BD)