EU commits €112 million for Nigeria’s security
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Tribune Online
Illustrative image · Adedire Abiodun · Pexels · Licence PexelsThe European Union is committing €112 million to support security, counterterrorism and migration management in Nigeria. The funds include €66 million for migration, €26 million for security and €20 million for counterterrorism operations, according to the European Union.
The European Union has committed €112 million to support migration management, security operations and counterterrorism efforts in Nigeria. The package includes €66 million for migration-related projects, €26 million for security, including efforts against the circulation of small arms and drug trafficking, and €20 million under the European Peace Facility, according to an EU statement quoted by Tribune Online.
The commitments were announced on Tuesday in Abuja by Magnus Brunner, European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, during meetings with several members of the Nigerian government. The €20 million assistance is the EU’s first bilateral assistance measure for Nigeria under the European Peace Facility, according to the EU.
Migration cooperation between the two sides is based in particular on the recently signed migrant readmission agreement. The EU also said Nigeria’s cooperation with Europol, Eurojust and Frontex, the European agencies for police, judicial and border-control cooperation, has strengthened in recent years.
The announcement comes a day after Nigeria and the EU concluded the migrant readmission agreement, concluded on 10 November after ten years of negotiations. The new financial package is part of cooperation between Abuja and Brussels on migration and security.
