Development Commissioner Karel de Gucht (Open VLD, ALDE) and Nigeria’s Executive Secretary of the National Planning Commission, Professor Sylvester Monye, signed on 19 November a multi-million euro EU-Nigeria aid agreement. A total of €677 million will be provided for the period 2009-2013, financed under the 10th European Development Fund, Europe’s financial cooperation instrument with the ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific) states and overseas countries and territories (OCTs).

«This agreement shows that Europe stands by Nigeria and its people in the development challenges it faces,» declared Karel de Gucht. «We are fully committed to supporting the government of Nigeria in the process of restoring peace and bringing development to the region.»The emphasis will be on peace and security, governance and human rights, which account for 69% of the total support, or €463 million. Another €105 million will support trade, regional integration, improved competitiveness in the private sector and energy. Environment, health and other sectors will receive €99 million of support.

The agreement, concluded in the form of a country strategy paper and national indicative programme (CSP/NIP), reflects the new approach to cooperation based on two initiatives: the Nigeria-EU Joint Way Forward, which gives fresh impetus to the long-standing partners’ relations and cooperation, and the European Union-African Union Strategic Partnership.