19 March 2012- The European Union has committed €98 million to help the Nigerian Government fight corruption, drug trafficking and to improve the justice system in the country.
"The overall objective of these projects is to promote good governance and contribute to Nigeria's efforts in enhancing transparency, accountability and combating corruption, contributing to the reform in the justice sector and addressing drug related issues in Nigeria," said Head of EU Delegation to Nigeria, Ambassador David MacRae during a high-level briefing and official signing of an agreement to support the anti-corruption project.
UNODC will work in partnership with the EU and the Nigerian Government to implement these three projects.
Corruption is one of the most important challenges faced by Nigeria. The first project works to promote efforts in preventing and fighting corruption through building the institutional and operational capacity of anti-corruption agencies and cooperation among them. For this project, the EU has committed €35 million for anti-corruption agencies and Nigerian civil society organizations involved in fighting corruption.
To fight drug trafficking and related organized crime in Nigeria, the EU has committed €36 million. These funds will be used to support policy formulation, improve drug legislation and coordination of the sector, as well as to improve law enforcement capacity to enhance drug prevention, treatment and care services.
Twenty seven million euros (€27 million) of the EU funding will go towards the third project which aims to support the Nigerian justice sector to improve the effectiveness, accessibility, accountability, transparency and fairness of the justice system in the country while upholding human rights.
UNODC is working with counterparts to ensure that implementation of the project to fight corruption starts within the first semester of 2012, followed by the two other projects during the second half of this year.
UN Resident Coordinator Daouda Toure expressed gratitude to the EU and the Nigerian Government for entrusting UNODC with the responsibility of these three large projects, adding, "I assure you that the UN System, led by UNODC, stakeholders and beneficiaries, will execute these projects to achieve the set objectives for the benefit of ordinary Nigerians."