The plans to increase financial aid to boost electricity supply in Nigeria in the next seven years, the Head of the EU Delegation in Nigeria, Michael Arrion, has said.
Addressing newsmen on Monday in Abuja, Arrion said Nigerian officials and their EU counterparts met recently in Brussels to decide on programming priorities for the next seven years.
He said the EU financial grant to Nigeria under the 10th European Development Fund for 2008-2013 was 677 million euros.
Arrion also said that the EU had in the last five years focused mainly on three main areas of intervention, namely economic governance, political governance and democracy and social governance.
He said: “Besides seeking to consolidate on the gains of the 10th European Development Fund, the 11th EDF, 2014 to 2020, as envisaged will address critical sectors like electricity, food and national security.”
He, however, said that the amount EU had earmarked for the next 11th EDF had not be finalised.
Arrion, who commended the successful implementation of the privatisation exercise in the electricity industry, said access to electricity remained central to Nigeria’s economic development.
According to him, the EU has contributed 27 million euros to improving access to renewable energy in six states in the ongoing projects that will run till 2018.
On security, the ambassador said that the EU had been hampered by limited financial resources to support the military aspect of security in Nigeria.
“We are addressing the civilian aspect of security crisis, but for the purely military aspect, we do not have the legal competence and the financial resources,” he said.
He said providing funds for training and technical assistance for Nigeria’s military was directly linked to sovereign states of EU as some states had existing military cooperation agreements with Nigeria.
On the insurgency in some parts of the country, the envoy said the EU was working with the office of the National Security Adviser to strengthen the capacity of security agencies.
Arrion also pledged EU’s commitment to the holding of credible elections in Nigeria and highlighted its 20million euro contribution to support the Nigeria-Electoral Cycle from 2012 to 2015.
He said: “EU 20million euros to this project is part of a multi-dollar trust fund managed by UNDP with DFID and CIDA, Canada.
“Its overall objective is to contribute towards the consolidation of the democratic process in Nigeria.”
The ambassador, who cautioned against reliance on aid from abroad to develop the country, added: “Nigeria will not develop with aid outside but from its abundant human and material resources.
“Private money not public money will develop Nigeria.”
Trending
- Chamber speaks on report Nigerians denied access to Chinese supermarket
- NERC transfers regulatory oversight of Enugu electricity market to state
- Onakoya: Playing chess from the slum to World Record, by Reuben Abati
- Yahaya Bello: EFCC denies disobeying court order
- ALGON BoT appeals judgment on Alabi’s leadership
- Naira loses 6% against dollar at official market
- Man 35, arraigned for vandalism, stealing of NAN property
- UTME: JAMB to refund registration fees to deserving visually-impaired candidates