The European Union (EU) has reaffirmed its commitment to improve Nigerian's infrastructure development through its Gateway Global Initiative, a strategic program aimed at promoting connectivity, sustainability and economic growth in Africa.
As part of this initiative, the EU will disburse 150 billion euros in four years by 2027 to Nigeria and other African countries, with Nigeria that will appear prominently in the investment package.
The initiative will support critical sectors such as transport, energy, digital infrastructure, health, education and agriculture. It also aims to promote sustainable development, environmental protection and the strongest associations between the EU and Nigeria.
During an informative media session in Lagos, Massimo de Luca, head of cooperation at the EU delegation to Nigeria and Ecowas, highlighted the importance of the initiative to strengthen economic ties between Nigeria and Europe. He explained that the global Gateway is designed to go beyond traditional help taking advantage of the investments of the public and private sectors.
De Luca said that between 2021 and 2024, the EU had implemented approximately 700 million euros in projects only within Nigeria. He stressed that the EU, along with its member states, remains the largest donor partner for Nigeria.
“The EU approach in the last two years has been in Global Gateway, a massive initiative with a financing plan of 300 billion euros, mainly directed to Africa, Latin America and Asia,” De Luca said.
Unlike previous cooperation models that focused mainly on technical assistance and capacities development, Gateway Gateway initiative is promoted by investment.
“This is exciting but slightly unusual for us because it requires that our Development Cooperation Department work in close collaboration with investors. These investors can be public or private, as long as they are committed to long -term sustainability, ”he said.
De Luca explained that financial sustainability is a key element of Global Gateway. Instead of trusting traditional subsidies, the initiative emphasizes loans and capital investments to guarantee the viability of the project.
“The instrument we use is not just subsidies or technical assistance contracts. Finance becomes an essential part of it. There must be a loan or capital investment, and someone must be willing to finance the project. This ensures that the projects are commercially viable and sustainable, ”he said.
In addition, it emphasized the role of Eurocham, the European Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria, in the aggregation of European investors that already operate in the country. When working with Eurocham, the EU aims to identify priority infrastructure projects that are aligned with Nigeria's development objectives.
One of the key Gateway approach areas in Nigeria is digital transformation. The EU is collaborating closely with Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy of Nigeria, to support initiatives such as: deployment of 90,000 km of fiber optic cables throughout the country; Establishment of electronic government systems to improve interoperability and efficiency; Development of digital skills, particularly for Nigerian young people.
“We are working closely with Minister Tijani on these three critical aspects. Several development partners are contributing to the implementation of fiber optic cables, which is essential for digital connectivity. In addition, electronic government systems are being developed to guarantee sustainability and efficiency in Nigeria's digital public administration, ”said De Luca.
De Luca revealed that the investment in the deployment of fiber optics will mainly provide the private sector, while the government would create a special purpose vehicle to facilitate the project.
“The Government will have a 50-50 or 51-49 property structure, but the investment, which means the real funds, arise from the private sector. We are exploring ways to promote private sector participation, which could imply a combination of subsidies for operational costs and loans for infrastructure development, ”he explained.
In the electronic government, he emphasized the need to establish solid protocols and acquire software and hardware necessary to allow perfect integration between government agencies. “We are involved with the private sector to understand best practices and identify the most appropriate models for Nigeria,” he said.
The EU also undertakes to improve digital skills among Nigerian, particularly in alignment with the program of 3 million technical talents (3MTT) of Nigeria.
“Our presence in the development of digital skills is already significant. Together with our GIZ partners, we have launched digital transformation centers (DTC), with lakes serving as a key center. We also support Nithub at the University of Lagos and other innovation centers throughout the country, ”said De Luca.
Through these centers, the EU organizes peer training programs, providing Nigerian young people recognized in internationally recognized certifications and practical experience.
De Luca emphasized that the EU is working with its member states under the framework of the European team to transfer the European experience to Nigeria. “We are identifying the best practices of the EU that would be more beneficial for Nigeria and work with the government to implement them effectively,” he said.
The EU Gateway Gateway initiative marks a significant change in development cooperation by focusing on large -scale investments instead of traditional help. With € 150 billion for Africa and Nigeria positioned as a priority country, interested parties believe that the initiative is expected to promote the development of infrastructure, economic growth and digital transformation.
By promoting solid associations with the Nigerian government, private investors and European stakeholders, the EU aims to create a sustainable and inclusive development model that benefits both Nigeria and its long -term citizens.
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