THE European Union delegation has said
Nigeria is a rich country which should not
depend on aid from foreign donors.
Michel Arion, the EU Ambassador and head
of delegation to Nigeria and Economic
Community of West African States
(ECOWAS), expressed the opinion in Abuja,
on Tuesday.
Arion told newsmen that any money given to
Nigeria by the EU was “seed money.”
Arion added that aids given to Nigeria by the
EU were to fund projects on a pilot scale,
while the Nigerian government was expected
to replicate them on a larger scale.
“Please note that our aid is strategically
tailored to unlock Nigeria’s potential. Nigeria
is not an aid-dependent economy, with aids
constituting less than one per cent of its
GDP.
“Therefore, when we fund projects on a pilot
scale, governments at various levels can
replicate them at a larger scale for wider
reach and greater benefits.
“Nigeria is a rich country, but Nigerians are
regrettably poor. To really develop the
economy in a sustainable way, the core issue
will be to redistribute social benefits through
fiscal measures using taxation and social
measures with safety nets. Strengthening the
institutions is absolute key in this regard,” he
said.
The EU official added that the its
development assistance to Nigeria, under the
11th European Development Fund, would
focus on the North.
According to Arion, the focus on the northern
part of the country was due to the fact that
development indicators in the area were
“unacceptably worse.”
He said the emphasis would be on improved
access to basic social services such as
health, nutrition and social protection.
“The fund will also be on improved access to
electricity, which will lead to economic
growth and improved security,” he said.
Arion said the EU recently signed an
agreement with the Nigerian government to
fund a pilot project.
According to him, the project was aimed at
providing community-based psychological
support and protection services for children
and adolescents affected by the Boko Haram
insurgency in Borno State.
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rich-doesn%E2%80%99t-need-aid-
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