Nigeria/EU
Europe gives Nigeria €677m to promote peace
Article published on the 2009-11-20 Latest update 2009-12-18 11:41 TU
An inland delta of the Niger River
(Photo: WikiMedia Commons/Nasa)
The EU said the deal, signed in Brussels on Thursday by European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Karel De Gucht and Nigeria's Executive Secretary of the National Planning Commission Sylvester Monye, was "an ambitious step forward in cooperation" and "a direct result of the Nigeria-EU political dialogue".
"It reinforces cooperation in three strategic areas: peace and security; governance and human rights; trade and regional integration with 677 million euros for the period 2009 to 2013 financed through the European Development Fund, " the EU said in the statement released in the Nigerian capital on Friday.
De Gucht said: "This agreement shows that Europe stands by Nigeria and its people in the development challenges it faces. I'm delighted that a substantial amount of this financing will go to support conflict resolution and the peace process in the Niger Delta which has been ravaged by years of unrest."
The Niger Delta has for more than three years been a haven for armed militants claiming to be fighting for a greater share of oil wealth for their communities.
At the peak of the unrest Nigeria, the world's eighth largest exporter of crude, saw its output slashed by a third.
"We are fully committed to supporting the government of Nigeria in the process of restoring peace and bringing development to the region," De Gucht added.
