The European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen has announced a financial package for a total of over €900 million (₦728billion) to drive various sectors in Nigeria.
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This major package forms a central part of the EU-Nigeria cooperation to advance the country’s green, resilient, digital inclusive transition under Government priorities and Global Gateway.
The EU’s positive offer is to deliver sustainable and trusted connections with partner countries.
Commissioner Urpilainen and her team held a joint strategic dialogue in Abuja with the Nigerian Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, and other relevant ministerial counterparts to discuss EU-Nigeria cooperation and tangible deliverables under the EU’s Global Gateway strategy.
They also discussed matters related to peace and security, trade, investments and sustainable finance, energy, digital economy, innovation, science and technology and migration.
The European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen who expressed her delight in visiting Nigeria in a bid to strengthen EU Nigeria partnership and pledged the EU’s commitment to continue to support Nigeria.
“I am delighted to be visiting Nigeria to further strengthen our partnership, and I look forward to launching a package of new actions, as part of the Global Gateway strategy and EU support to Government priorities. Building on our long-standing cooperation, and in the best spirit of shared responsibility, commitment and accountability, the EU will continue to invest in our common future and priorities of security, democracy and prosperity for all – not least through the package of loans and grants I am signing and launching here today that will benefit the Nigerian businesses, farmers, youth and the society a as whole.”
The Nigerian Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, said the EU-Nigerian has grown in leaps and bounds over the years.
According to Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, “Today marks yet another milestone in the annals of the EU-Nigeria development cooperation. The EU -Nigeria relations is one of the most vibrant development partnerships in terms of volume, thematic interventions, modalities and geographical spread in deployment of resources. The EU-Nigeria Strategic Dialogue is happening at the take-off of the current Administration in Nigeria and presents opportunities for proper articulation and consolidation of priorities in our Partnership.”
“I am very happy to announce today two financial agreements in crucial sectors for Nigeria and the region: health and entrepreneurship.
“The partnership with EMZOR pharmaceutical Industries is a significant step towards accelerating treatments against malaria and healthcare access across the region while reducing the dependence on the importation of essential medicines. We are proud to accompany the development of a pioneer firm committed to strengthening the anti malarial supply chain and production”.
The jointly developed areas between the EU and Nigeria which the package will drive new programmes through Global Gateway are Climate smart agriculture (€29million), Sustainable energy (€37 million), Access to health services (€45 million) and Education: support to youth and education development in the North West region (€5.4 million) which will launch to contribute to policy improvement of the teaching profession and the capacity building of teachers.
In addition to these areas of support, the package will also contribute to building access in the Nigerian social protection safety net (€46 million), support to border management and reintegration of returnees (€28.4million), support to the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration of Boko Haram combatants in the North East region (€20million) and, support to improving the criminal justice system, access to justice and the fight against corruption (€30million).
Commissioner Urpilainen has also participated in the signature of the loans issued to two Nigerian private companies and banks by the European Investment Bank, as part of the Global Gateway strategy.
This includes a “2X Challenge” €50 million credit facility with Access Bank for loans to female entrepreneurs and managers in Nigeria, expected to create jobs and growth in line with the green economy priorities.
The second €14 million loan is for Emzor Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients to finance the construction of a manufacturing plant for the production of anti-malarial drugs.
Jutta Urpilainen, and Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, will be in Nigeria from 18 to 20 October, to boost the EU-Nigeria partnership.
The visit will be an opportunity to deepen the bilateral partnership, discuss regional priorities ahead of the upcoming European Union – African Union Ministerial Conference on 20 November 2023 and launch the Global Gateway campaign in Nigeria, as well as several digital, energy and connectivity programmes.
The Commissioners will meet with their Nigerian counterparts as well as with several representatives of ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), including the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, to discuss the regional context and broader geopolitics and also sign a number of financing agreements.
During the visit, Commissioner Urpilainen will also hold exchanges with young people in the context of the expected launch of the Education and Youth Empowerment project for Western Nigeria.
Jutta Urpilainen together with Commissioner Simson, will meet opinion leaders, Tony Elumelu, and other private sector representatives and the Nigerian Youth Sounding Board.
Commissioner Simson will meet with the Nigerian President’s Special Adviser on Energy, Olu Verheijen, and visit the ECOWAS Energy Information System.
She will also visit the N-LNG facilities on the Bonny Island on 20 October.
