The Nation Newspaper

Tag: EU

  • EU, Sahara Group to partner on power, child nutrition improvement

    EU, Sahara Group to partner on power, child nutrition improvement

    The European Union (EU)  has said it is keen to work with the government, business institutions and other stakeholders to promote sustainable power supply and enhanced nutrition for children in Nigeria.

    The Ambassador/Head of EU Delegation to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Mr. Michel Arrion stated this in Lagos during a courtesy visit to Sahara Group, an indigenous energy and infrastructure conglomerate with operations across the globe.

    Arrion, who visited in company of Mr. Ibi Ikpoki, Economic Officer, EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS to explore possible partnerships with the firm, was received by the Executive Director, Sahara Group, Mr. Tonye Cole, and the Managing Director, So Aviation, a member of the Sahara Group, Mr. Alistair Morrison.

    Speaking on Nigeria’s power sector, Arrion said the EU remained committed to supporting the nation’s unfolding power reform through research grants which would help discover the “right technology, effective tariff regime, regulation and partnerships” required to attain sustainable power supply.

    “We are considering a combination of grants and possibly, loans that will help the nation make viable progress in power generation, transmission, distribution, technical efficiency, commercial efficiency, renewable energy as well as effective regulatory framework. We are open to partnerships with the Sahara Group and other organisations in this regard,” he said.

    Cole said the firm would be happy to partner EU to realise its far reaching goals in the power sector and improving nutrition for children across the nation. He said the Sahara Group, through affiliation with Egbin Power Plc and Ikeja Electricity Distribution Plc (Ikeja Electric) has been playing frontline role in the sector through investments, infrastructure upgrades and human capital development.

    “Egbin for the first time since its inception has recently achieved sustained generation of over 1000 megawatts (Mw), a development that has boosted power supply in the nation. This achievement is being driven by continuing investments, partnerships as well as the resilience and expertise of our people,” he said.

    Cole said Ikeja Electric was currently working on an Advanced Metering Infrastructure project that would transform service excellence in the sector. “Sahara is passionate about Nigeria’s power sector and we believe that with the support of the EU and other stakeholders, the nation will achieve sustainable power supply, which would markedly transform our economy,” he added.

    Arrion said the EU is also considering a robust intervention to address malnutrition, with children being its primary target. “We are concerned about the nutritional state of children, especially those under the age of five years where a lot of development of the human body happens. We are planning to host an event where the issue of malnutrition will be discussed with Nigerian and global stakeholders,” he added.

    Cole also stated that Sahara was well placed to offer effective partnership to the EU on nutrition having implemented several successful projects through Sahara Foundation. The Sahara Foundation is the Group’s vehicle for promoting sustainable and socially responsible interventions in healthcare, the environment, community development, education and capacity building.

  • EU’s support for Africa to hit 1.1b euros

    EU’s support for Africa to hit 1.1b euros

    The European Commission said it would support the West African region with about1.15 billion euros, approximately $1.27 billion between now and  the year 2020.

    In a statement issued by the Commission in Brussels, the EU said ‘the programme’ under the 11th European Development Fund would focus on peace and security, regional economic integration and trade, and sustainable development of natural resources and biodiversity.

    It quoted European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, as saying that the signing of the funding agreement was the “ambitious starting point for preparing new, concrete projects.”

    It said the new funding doubled the support from the last programming period.

    The previous regional programme which ran between 2008 and 2013 for West Africa had a budget of 595 million euros.

    According the press statement, 16 countries benefit from the EU-West Africa regional indicative programme, namely Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana and Guinea.

    Others are Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.

  • EU decries poor implementation of PHC in Southeast

    EU decries poor implementation of PHC in Southeast

    The European Union (EU) has lamented the poor implementation of Primary Health Care (PHC) in the Southeast.

    It said the zone was rated lowest among the six geopolitical zones as at June 17 this year.

    Team leader of the EU SIGN Project, Dr. Goli Lamiri said this yesterday at the Southeast advocacy meeting on the establishment of PHC.

    He said the assessent was based on the criteria adopted by the National Health Act and Primary Health Care system, which government agencies must develop for effective quality PHC to the grassroots.

    These according to him, included a strong management and governance system, effective legislation, funding of the PHC, minimum service package and mobilisation of human resources required to deliver services to communities.

    Lamiri said though the implementation programme started in 2004 with two pilot states of Enugu and Jigawa, and later Ekiti, only Jigawa sustained its programme.

    The EU representative said the team was in Anambra State to support the Southeast, in partnership with the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), to establish and strengthen the PHC boards in the three states of Ebonyi, Abia and Anambra.

    NPHCDA’s Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Dr. Mohammed Abdullahi, who represented the Executive Director, Dr. Ado Mohammed stressed the need to bring the PHC under one roof to streamline activities and ensure its efficiency and effectiveness.

    According to him, “if a lot of money is spent on tertiary and secondary health care systems without the commensurate expenditure on the PHC, the impact of the health care delivery will remain minimal.

    “Bringing PHC under one roof is a strong instrument for effective delivery and it will be easier for states to control allocation of resources, implementation and monitoring”.

    Anambra State Commissioner for Health Dr. Joe Akabuike, who opened the workshop  said the team’s presence would help government start the implementation of the functions of the agency.

    He explained that legislature passed the bill into law in December 2014 and Governor Willie Obiano assented to it in January this year.

    He said: “This is a project that is very dear to us and that is why the governor assented to the bill soon after it was passed; the board of the agency has since been constituted”.

  • EU warns of sanctions over Burundi crisis

    The European Union warned Burundi on Monday it might impose sanctions on those responsible for violence and consider other steps against the aid-reliant nation, plunged into turmoil by the president’s plan to run for a third term.

    A grenade attack killed four people on Sunday. President Pierre Nkurunziza’s opponents said his bid for another five years in office is unconstitutional, while he cites a court ruling that found he could run.

    Reuters says it is the worst political crisis since Burundi emerged from ethnically fuelled civil war in 2005.

    The unrest has worried a region with a history of ethnic conflict, particularly next door Rwanda, where there was genocide in 1994.

    “The EU is determined to adopt, if necessary, targeted restrictive measures against those whose actions might have led or might lead to acts of violence and repression and serious human rights violations,” EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg said in a statement.

    The body funds about half the annual budget of Burundi, one of the world’s poorest nations, and diplomats have said in the past donors would seek targeted sanctions rather than broad steps that could harm the population.

    But EU ministers warned that the situation could push them to consider reviewing broader relations between Burundi and the EU, comments suggesting some aid could be suspended.

    The EU, Belgium and the Netherlands have already cut some aid flows, mainly related to supporting the elections.

  • EU extends Russian sanction

    European Union foreign ministers on Monday extended economic sanctions on Russia until January 31, keeping up pressure on Moscow to help resolve the Ukraine conflict.

    The ministers meeting in Luxembourg approved a six-month extension of the sanctions, which were “introduced in response to Russia’s destabilising role in eastern Ukraine,” an EU statement said.

    The ministers ratified a decision taken by officials last week, the BBC reports.

    Kremlin Spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said last week that Russia’s reaction to the EU decision would be based on the “principle of reciprocity,” suggesting that it would extend counter-sanctions that include a ban on Western food imports.

    The sanctions on Russia’s energy, defence and financial sectors, originally imposed in July 2014 for one year, were the EU’s toughest response to Moscow’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region and what the EU said is Russia’s support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.

    EU leaders agreed in March that economic sanctions on Russia would stay until the Minsk ceasefire deal in Ukraine is fully implemented, but delayed taking a decision to formally extend the sanctions.

  • Boko Haram: EU pledges €21m for victims, IDPs

    Boko Haram: EU pledges €21m for victims, IDPs

    More help is coming the way of victims of Boko Haram’s attacks in Nigeria and other neighbouring countries, as the European Commission pledged €21 million.

    The EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides, in a statement yesterday by the commission, said €12.5 million of the fund will be used to tackle humanitarian challenges in Nigeria.

    Also, €8.5 million will go into supporting the refugees in Niger, Cameroon and Chad.

    The new aid followed assistance the commission is providing to the most vulnerable people affected by food insecurity and malnutrition in Nigeria and the neighbouring countries.

    In 2015 and 2014, the European Commission allocated more than €123 million and €107 million to provide humanitarian assistance in Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger.

    But the new EU funding is expected to provide immediate support, including clean water, food, shelter, healthcare and protection to the displaced and the host communities in the Northeast as well as to Nigerian refugees in the neighbouring countries.

    Stylianides, who is visiting Nigeria to assess the humanitarian situation, said: “More than 1.7 million people have been displaced by the terror of Boko Haram. Many of them live in precarious conditions in other parts of Nigeria or the neighbouring countries, where they have fled.

    “Meeting some of them today, I saw with my own eyes the immense needs that the conflict is causing among civilians. We are stepping up our humanitarian response to the call of those in the greatest need”.

    He expressed concern over the lack of humanitarian access to the people who need help.

     “There are restrictions of access in many areas, in particular along Lake Chad. All possible efforts should be made to ensure that humanitarian organisations can be there for those who need their help,” he said.

    Stylianides is in the country to assess the humanitarian consequences of insurgency.

     He will be meeting the displaced persons and relief organisations to discuss how EU aid can be put to the best use.

    The commissioner is expected to hold meetings with government representatives and civil society organisations.

  • EU to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40%

    EU to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40%

    The  European Union (EU)  promised  to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent by 2030.

    The Ambassador/ Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria, Michel Arrion, made the declaration at the European Climate Change Diplomacy Day  in Abuja yesterday.

    He said the EU is not viewing climate change as just a problem for Europe but a global challenge.

    He said: “ The actions that different countries can take to tackle the problem, and how to increase public awareness. As representatives of different European countries present in Nigeria, this is also a chance for us to consider how Nigeria can respond to that threat.

    “ The EU has itself already made a strong commitment, promising that by 2030 we will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40 per cent based on 1990 levels.

    “There is wide spread international agreement that action needs to be taken to limit the ruse in global temperatures to less than two degrees. “At its simplest Africa has many areas that are low-lying close to the sea – many of which you know are in Nigeria.  These are areas that over decades will be certainly adversely affected.  So as climate change slowly takes effect with a steady rise in sea levels this is certainly a problem that is going to affect Africa and Nigeria.

    “In sum, if we recognise that we have a problem; we know it is going to affect us all; we know that we can grow and cut greenhouse emissions; then with this knowledge we know we all need to act.  And today is a day to encourage that action; and to remind us that we have the tools to act.”

  • Gambia expels EU top diplomat

    Gambian government has expelled the European Union’s top diplomat in the West African state, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday, but gave no further details.

    Agnès Guillaud, the European Union’s chargée d’affaires in Banjul, who is acting in place of an ambassador, was asked to leave Gambia within 72 hours, according to the statement, which was read on Gambia national TV.

    The statement said the decision was effective Friday. No reason was given for the expulsion.

    EU officials were not immediately available to comment, Reuters reports.

    Gambian President Yahya Jammeh, 50, has ruled the tiny West African nation with a firm hand since he came to power in a coup some 20 years ago. He has stifled dissent and has faced increased criticism from abroad over issues ranging from human rights to claims he can cure AIDS.

    He has also cracked down on the country’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

    The EU blocked some 13 million euros in aid to Gambia in 2014 because of its poor human rights record, in particular anti-homosexual laws, and was debating whether to release some 150 million euros ($186 million) in aid this year.

  • EU appeals death penalties in Nigeria

    EU appeals death penalties in Nigeria

    THE European Union Delegation in Nigeria has appealed to Federal Government to reconsider cases of people on death row in the country.

    It urged Nigeria to commute  or, where appropriate, pardon the death sentences of many death row prisoners.

    The body, in a statement, argued that such magnanimity  would help enhance respect for human life.

    EU, which was reacting to the recent pardon granted to Moses Akatugba by former Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, said such a gesture would avoid the harsh and irreversible consequences, if it was later discovered that there was a miscarriage of justice.

     The statement reads: “The pardon of Moses Akatugba – sentenced to death for an offence committed when he was 16 years old – by outgoing governor is a commendable decision and significant step forward for Nigerian justice and the human rights of its citizens.

    “The EU and its member states oppose the death penalty. We commend the Governor of Delta State for his actions in this case; and appeal to the Nigerian authorities to commute or, where appropriate, to pardon the death sentences of the many death row prisoners across the country.”

    The 24-year-old Akatugba was sentenced to death by execution for stealing three phones eight years ago and has spent eight years in prison. He was 16 years when he committed the offence.

    The decision to pardon him was made known shortly after the last executive meeting of the governor at the Government House, Asaba, the state capital, on  May 28.

    Aside granting pardon to Akatugba, Uduaghan also commuted death sentences of three others to various terms of imprisonment.

  • EU appeals against death penalties, hails Akatugbe’s pardon

    The European Union Delegation in Nigeria has appealed to Federal Government to reconsider cases of people on death row in the country.

    Specifically, EU asked Nigeria authorities to commute or, where appropriate, to pardon, the death sentences of the many death row prisoners across the country.

    The body argued that such magnanimity would help enhance the respect for human life.

    While reacting to the recent pardon granted to Moses Akatugba by former Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, EU said such a gesture would avoid the harsh and irreversible consequences if there was later found to have been a miscarriage of justice.

    Reacting to the gesture of the former governor, the EU Head of Mission in Nigeria said in a statement that the body is opposed to death penalty.

    The statement reads: “The pardon of Moses Akatugba – sentenced to death for an offence committed when he was 16 years old – by former Governor of Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghan, was a commendable decision and significant step forward for Nigerian justice and the human rights of its citizens.

    “The EU and its Member States oppose the death penalty. We commend the former Governor of Delta State for his actions in this case; and appeal to the Nigerian authorities to commute or, where appropriate, to pardon the death sentences of the many death row prisoners across the country. This would enhance the respect for human life, and avoid the harsh and irreversible consequences if there was later found to have been a miscarriage of justice.”

    The 24-year-old, Akatugba, was sentenced to death for stealing three phones eight years ago and has spent eight years in prison. He was 16years old when he committed the offence.

    The decision to pardon him was made known shortly after the last executive meeting presided over by Uduaghan at the Government House, Asaba, the state capital, on May 28.

    Aside granting total pardon to Akatugba, the former governor also commuted death sentences of three others to various terms of imprisonment.