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The European Union has announced support packages worth €70 million for Nigeria, including €45 million for security and peacebuilding and €25 million for agriculture.
The announcement followed a meeting in Abuja between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the package includes a €20 million European Peace Facility programme to strengthen Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts through the provision of counter-drone and counter-improvised explosive device equipment, alongside a €25 million peace and stabilisation programme for the North-West.
Mignot also disclosed that preparations were at an advanced stage for a €25 million agricultural initiative focused on Nigeria’s dairy and cocoa value chains.
He said consultations were ongoing to facilitate President Bola Tinubu’s proposed official visit to Brussels in October, describing it as an opportunity to expand cooperation.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu welcomed the support, describing the EU as one of Nigeria’s foremost trading and development partners.
She reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to stronger collaboration in trade, investment, agriculture, renewable energy, infrastructure, innovation, migration, peace and security, while commending the bloc’s continued support for the country’s security architecture and regional peacebuilding efforts.
