The European Union (EU) on Thursday pledged to support Nigeria in developing its power sector in line with international best practice.
Mr Michel Arrion, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria made the pledge in Abuja when he visited the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo.
Michel Arrion
He said that the EU had approved N3.4 billion grants for the Nigerian Energy Support Programme as part of efforts to improve energy efficiency and access in the country.
“These funds show that the EU is committed to ensuring that a greater number of Nigerians get access to electricity and to a lasting partnership with the government and other donors in the power sector,’’ he said.
Earlier, Nebo, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Godknows Igali, said that the fund would be used to boost solar power technology in the country.
“ Part of the Federal Government’s transformation agenda is to improve the supply and efficiency of electricity for Nigerian households and businesses,’’ he said.
He stressed the need for capacity building to be embedded in the selected intervention areas to ensure skilled that personnel were involved in the renewable energy sub-sector.
The minister said that the Federal Government would continue to work with relevant development partners in its quest to develop the nation’s power sector.
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 said that the programme started in 2013 with N2 billion support from the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development.
According to the EU, the N3.4 billion additional funding will help Nigerian institutions and NESP to secure an enabling policy, institutional and regulatory framework conditions on the federal level.