Nigeria

The EU partners with Nigeria to build a more resilient and sustainable agricultural sector, promote climate-smart practices, and stimulate private sector investment to develop the country's agricultural value chains and safeguard ecosystems. Initiatives include: 

• Building inclusive and sustainable value chains - Supporting dairy and cocoa value chains, including market-oriented approaches for job creation and economic growth and focusing on climate-smart agriculture and sustainable farming practices.
• Stimulating private sector investment - Providing access to finance for agri-businesses, promoting agricultural finance in rural areas, and enhancing market access through improved transport infrastructure and logistical hubs.
• Investing in innovative tools & knowledge-sharing - Using Copernicus/remote sensing for climate-smart agriculture, deploying information systems on food insecurity, supporting TVET training and infrastructure rehabilitation
• Climate adaptation & natural resource management - Strengthening community resilience to climate change and land degradation. Support is also provided for climate adaptation, erosion control, and watershed management.
• Forest and natural resources preservation - Protecting forest ecosystems in Cross-River state and promoting re-greening efforts in the Sahel.
• Transboundary water management - Focusing on Lake Chad Basin water resources management to promote regional cooperation and sustainability, while supporting biodiversity conservation through integrated landscape approaches like NaturAfrica.

Through targeted investments, the EU aims to boost Nigeria's renewable energy capacity and foster the transition to cleaner, more efficient energy systems, while reducing pollution, and creating jobs, especially for young people. 

• Investing in infrastructure construction - Development of a 200 MW solar energy plant in Jigawa with Agence Francaise de Developement (AFD), 150 hybrid mini-grids (with EIB), hydroelectric power generation, and solar energy for health facilities. Key transmission lines, including the Nigeria-Benin interconnection and Northern Corridor transmission lines, will also be built.
• Stimulating private sector investment and creating jobs for young people - Providing access to finance for private sector renewable energy projects through initiatives such as Get.Invest, ElectriFI, and SUNREF. The EU also supports vocational training and scholarships in sustainable energy to create job opportunities for young people.
• Reducing pollution & promote international standards - Promoting circular economy practices, and implementing greenhouse gas emissions reduction initiatives, including methane reduction.
• Regulatory support - Offering policy and regulatory support for clean energy initiatives, including the SolarTech Nigeria impact cluster, mapping Nigeria's greenhouse gas emissions profile, and supporting renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions.

The EU partners with Nigeria to leverage the potential of digital technologies for economic growth, improved governance, and inclusive development including through the EU-Nigeria digital economy package. Key actions include: 

• Infrastructure investment - Improving connectivity with fiber optic cables, and 4G expansion in Lagos and Ogun states (with EIB), while enhancing secure and resilient connectivity through the Medusa Africa Cable.
• Digitalisation of public services - Promoting digital learning, developing a teachers' workforce registry, deploying digital health systems, strengthening Nigeria's digital identity infrastructure, and supporting sustainable social protection programmes.
• Digital entrepreneurship - Boosting tech start-ups and green solutions, creating a Digital Innovation Centre with Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), providing on-the-job training for graduates, and strengthening digital innovation ecosystems. The EU also funds training in ICT skills to returning migrants. 

The EU and Nigeria are fostering sustainable development and regional integration through targeted investments in infrastructure, trade, and transport. By enhancing connectivity and creating growth opportunities, our partnership aims to improve the quality of life for Nigerians and strengthen regional ties within West Africa. 

• Building regional connections and liveable cities - Developing Inland Waterways Transport (IWT) corridors with ferry routes, terminals, and renewable energy docking stations in Lagos (with EIB and AFD). Establishing a regional system for efficient and safe transport systems to promote stability and integration. Improving access to agri-markets by upgrading rural transport infrastructure.
• Building and expanding investment and trade partnerships - Supporting the EU-Nigeria Business Forum, promoting trade facilitation, and encouraging responsible business conduct initiatives.

The EU collaborates with Nigeria to promote stability and security by supporting democratic governance, inclusive participation of young people, women, and people with disabilities, and fostering peace-building efforts. Key actions include: 

• Promoting conflict resolution and prevention
  • Supporting peaceful and resilient borderlands.
  • Encouraging community-led initiatives for conflict prevention and stability.
  • Supporting conflict mitigation and community peace initiatives in north-west Nigeria.
  • Strengthening relations between farmers and herders in Adamawa and Taraba states.
  • Promoting the reintegration of former combatants, including Boko Haram associates, in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states.
  • Providing support for livelihoods and conflict resolution in the Niger Delta.
• Access to justice - Improving access to justice for vulnerable groups, including women, children, juveniles, persons with disabilities, and victims of sexual and gender-based violence. 

The EU works with Nigeria to improve migration governance, supporting sustainable reintegration and addressing forced displacement caused by conflict, disasters, and climate change. Our collaboration promotes the safe and effective management of migration while protecting vulnerable populations. 

• Migration governance and combating human trafficking -Supporting the sustainable reintegration of returning migrants. Enhancing free movement and migration management in West Africa.
• Return and reintegration - Providing support for migrant protection, return, and reintegration.
• Forced displacement - Providing protection and lasting solutions for populations displaced by conflict in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Response to disaster and climate-related displacement - Enhancing prevention and risk reduction. Focusing on capacity-building and improved data collection to better understand internal displacement, particularly due to natural disasters, environmental degradation, and climate change, and address its causes, impact, and future risks. 

Health and education (human development) and poverty reduction are priorities for Nigeria. Our support focuses on social protection, education and reproductive health. In doing so we seek to bring about the transformation in healthcare and education provision that is needed to reduce poverty. 

• Promoting access to quality education and research - Supporting education and youth empowerment in north-western Nigeria, strengthening education systems, and building teachers' capacity. 
• Promoting access to healthcare and social protection - Improving access and manufacturing capacities for vaccines, medicines, and health technologies in Africa.