The European Union (EU) has announced a €288 million support package for Nigeria, targeting key sectors including healthcare, agriculture, finance, migration, climate, and digital public infrastructure.
The funding was unveiled by the EU delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS during an EU–Nigeria ministerial news conference in Abuja, marking a new phase under the EU–Nigeria Partnership framework.
Mr. Stefano Signore, Director-General for International Partnerships at the European Commission, said the initiative reflects an acceleration of EU investments in Nigeria under its Global Gateway strategy.
According to him, while progress has been made, more is expected through the strategy, particularly in the health and agriculture sectors, which are being prioritised to improve infrastructure, standards, local manufacturing, and inclusion.
Signore also noted that the EU would deepen cooperation on sustainable migration by creating better economic opportunities for returnee migrants.
Earlier, Nigeria’s Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, said the engagement builds on the momentum generated at the 2023 EU–Nigeria Strategic Dialogue, which marked a significant milestone in bilateral relations.
He explained that the dialogue elevated mutual engagement and formally launched the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy in Nigeria.
“This moment signals a deepening of ties and a shared commitment to a modern partnership anchored on mutual respect, shared prosperity, and sustainable investment,” he said.
Bagudu added that Nigeria remains committed to strengthening the relationship, noting that under Bola Tinubu, the government is implementing far-reaching macroeconomic reforms aimed at stabilising the economy, improving fiscal sustainability, and creating an enabling environment for private sector-led growth.
The minister, represented by Dr. Doris Anite-Uzoka, said the reforms include efforts to boost revenue mobilisation, enhance transparency in public financial management, rationalise expenditure, and improve foreign exchange market efficiency.
Also speaking, Dr. Olasupo Olusi, Managing Director of the Bank of Industry (BoI), said the partnership demonstrates how strategic collaboration can channel long-term investments into critical sectors.
He noted that, in collaboration with the European Investment Bank, targeted financing is being directed to healthcare and agriculture—two sectors central to Nigeria’s resilience and inclusive growth agenda.
Mr. Jarno Syrjäiä, Finland’s Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Trade, said his country is leading a new Team Europe Initiative aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s digital public services and supporting the Three Million Technical Talents (3MTT) programme.
He added that Finland’s development company, HAUS, will implement the initiative in partnership with Estonia’s development agency, ESTDEV, leveraging European expertise in digital governance and public sector innovation.
Meanwhile, Mr. Uche Amaonwu, Country Director of the Gates Foundation, emphasised the importance of supporting local healthcare manufacturing.
He commended partners for mobilising financing for African healthcare players, noting that the collaboration is already translating into concrete investments in Nigeria through BoI facilities.
Breakdown of the €288m package
The EU outlined the allocation of the €288 million as follows:
- €23 million in grant support for Nigeria’s digital public infrastructure
- €108 million (€22 million grant and €86 million loan) to the Nigerian government
- €50 million lending facility to BoI for healthcare manufacturing projects
- €5 million grant for training in health, pharmaceutical, and nutrition sectors
- €85 million lending facility to BoI to support agribusinesses, particularly in dairy and cocoa value chains
- €1 million for a twinning project with Nigeria’s Ministry of Agriculture, involving experts from Austria, the Czech Republic, and Latvia
- €16 million to strengthen migration governance, including reintegration of returnees and efforts to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling
- The EU said the package underscores its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s economic transformation through sustainable and inclusive investments.
