France Commits €3.3bn To Nigeria’s Water, Power, Transport Projects

France has reaffirmed its commitment to Nigeria’s sustainable development, with the French Development Agency (AFD) investing more than €3.3 billion in 57 projects spanning 23 states, targeting critical sectors such as water, power, transport, climate resilience and skills development.

The investment, announced as France marked its National Day, underscores the growing development partnership between both countries and reinforces France’s support for sustainable and inclusive economic growth in Nigeria.

French National Day, celebrated annually on July 14, commemorates the country’s transition from monarchy to republic and reflects the values of liberty, equality and fraternity, which continue to shape France’s international cooperation agenda.

In a statement, the Consul General of France in Lagos, Laurent Favier, said the partnership between the two countries has expanded significantly over the past 17 years through AFD’s collaboration with the Federal Government and state governments to address development and climate-related challenges.

According to him, the €3.3 billion investment portfolio includes more than €1.1 billion mobilised through Proparco, AFD’s private-sector financing arm, while the recent establishment of Expertise France, the agency’s technical cooperation arm, has further strengthened development cooperation in Nigeria.

Favier said AFD’s interventions at the federal level also support entrepreneurs and communities across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

He noted that the investments are designed to promote sustainable and inclusive development by creating jobs, strengthening critical infrastructure and expanding skills development and economic opportunities.

Highlighting one of the flagship projects in Lagos, Favier said AFD is supporting the Omi Eko initiative, Africa’s first electric inland waterway transport system.

According to him, the project is expected to provide a safe, affordable and efficient alternative to road transportation, reduce traffic congestion, lower commuting costs and improve the quality of life for Lagos residents.

He added that France’s investments in Nigeria reflect its broader commitment to multilateral cooperation and sustainable development, noting that bilateral relations have been further strengthened through high-level engagements, including the Creation Africa Forum held in Lagos last year and Nigeria’s participation at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi.

“Team France is proud to mark this occasion alongside its Nigerian partners and to reaffirm the strength and vitality of the France-Nigeria relationship,” Favier said.

Team France in Nigeria comprises AFD Group, Business France, the Franco-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Alliance Française, Campus France, and other institutions that promote trade, education, culture, innovation, and development.

France remains Nigeria’s largest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa and the leading destination for French investments in West Africa, accounting for about 60 per cent of the region’s total French investments. More than 100 French companies currently operate in Nigeria, employing over 16,000 Nigerians.