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Ambassador warns of disinformation threats as infrastructure partnerships expand
Abuja, Nigeria – The European Union doubled down on its €300 billion Global Gateway Investment Strategy for Nigeria this week, with Ambassador Gautier Mignot announcing fresh infrastructure partnerships at Abuja’s first-ever Diplomatic and Security International Conference. What’s different this time? Mignot says the EU is moving away from traditional aid toward what he calls “real partnerships.”
Beyond Traditional Aid Models
The Global Gateway program appears to signal a shift in how Europe engages with African nations. Rather than the usual donor-recipient dynamic, Mignot positioned the initiative as something closer to genuine partnership.
“The one you can count upon, that keeps its commitments and stays its course,” Mignot said, describing the EU’s approach. It’s a pointed reference, perhaps, to other global powers whose African commitments have proven less reliable.
His exact words: “Our offer to Africa and to the world is called the Global Gateway Investment Strategy. It aims at going beyond traditional development aid to build real partnerships that respect sovereignty and promote sustainable growth.”
What Nigeria Actually Gets
The specifics may surprise some observers. We’re talking about a 90,000-kilometer fiber optic network that’s roughly twice the distance around Earth’s equator. Lagos will also see electric maritime transport systems, while climate-smart agriculture and renewable energy projects are planned nationwide.
Mignot highlighted Nigeria’s role as central to EU priorities across West Africa. Whether these projects will actually materialize remains to be seen, though the ambassador’s presence at this high-profile conference suggests serious intent.
The Information War Challenge
Here’s where things get interesting. Mignot spent considerable time warning about disinformation campaigns targeting the EU-Nigeria partnership.
“To succeed in this renewed partnership, we also need to win the battle of information, because we are facing massive strategies of disinformation,” he said.
The EU is reportedly launching media literacy programs alongside infrastructure projects an acknowledgment that building roads and fiber networks means little if public opinion turns against the partnership.
Democracy and Development Linked
The EU’s Nigeria strategy hinges on democracy, human rights, and gender equality as what Mignot called “core pillars.” Some critics might wonder whether this represents genuine commitment or diplomatic boilerplate.
Either way, Mignot’s conference appearance signals Brussels intends to deepen economic and security ties with Nigeria throughout 2025. Whether that translates into concrete progress for ordinary Nigerians may depend as much on fighting fake news as laying fiber optic cables.
By Abdullah Korede
