The European Union on Thursday made a
donation of N3.4bn to scale up the Nigerian
Energy Support Programme.

The donation was jointly announced by the
Federal Ministry of Power, the EU and the
Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale
Zusammnarbeit, at the headquarters of the power
ministry in Abuja.

The EU Ambassador, Michel Arrion, said the fund
would help deepen access to electricity in villages
that were yet to be connected to the national
power grid.

Arrion said, “These funds show that the EU is
committed to ensuring that a greater number of
Nigerians get access to electricity, as well as to a
lasting partnership with the government and other
donors in the power sector.”

In his address, the Permanent Secretary, FMP, Mr.
Godknows Igali, said the fund would be managed
by the EU and it would be used to boost solar
power technology in Nigeria.

He explained that most of the infrastructure to be
developed using the money, would be built in the
northern part of the country, adding that the
ministry would ensure that the projects were
completed on schedule.

Igali said, “Part of the Federal Government’s
transformation agenda is to improve the supply
and efficiency of electricity for Nigerian
households and businesses. This is to improve
the livelihoods of the greater population of
Nigerians.”

The Country Director, GIZ, Dr. Thomas Kirsh, said
the fund would greatly help in scaling up
successful activities aimed at improving access to
energy.

The Head of Cooperation, EU Delegation to Nigeria
and ECOWAS, Mr. Alan Munday, explained that the
NESP would improve conditions for investments
in renewable energy, energy efficiency and rural
electrification.

He noted that the programme started in 2013 with
N2bn support from the German Federal Ministry of
Economic Cooperation and Development.
According to the EU, the N3.4bn additional
funding would allow NESP to continue advising
Nigerian institutions on the enabling policy,
institutional and regulatory framework conditions
on the federal level.

The union also noted that the fund would also
support improved rural electrification planning in
five states and set up various demonstration
projects, providing business models to increase
energy access through sustainable energy
resources.

subterfuge: This EU are also fooolish people.
How on earth can a sane EU donate to a CORRUPT STATE??
DONT THEY HAVE SENSE?
EU please when you are dining with the devil, use a long spoon.
Why dont the EU use the NGO's to construct all sorts of improved water structures arround Nigeria and then EU can come and commission something at least.
This N3.4b i can assure you will be diverted to private pockets for 2015 General elections.
EU please wise up now. You are dealing with Nigeria and not South Africa!!!

Idrismusty97: And we are about to borrow $1bn to tackle bokoharam despite our status as the richest country in African, 26th in the world. South Africa whose miners are still on strike are contributing not less than $5bn to the new BRICS bank.
The EU have too much money anyway.... If we don't use it who will?