Germany earmarks €18m for development of border communities in Nigeria

The German government will provide €18million grant for the development of border communities in Nigeria.

The Coordinator of the GIZ ECOWAS Cluster, Mr. Ludwig Kirchner, who disclosed this at a workshop on the regional review and planning of the African Union Border Programme (AUBP) held on Tuesday in Abuja, said the fund would be disbursed by Germany’s international aid agency, German Cooperation, as part of the government’s support for the fourth phase of the AUBP phase 2020-2022.

Kirchner said border communities across the world were often neglected by the authorities due to their remote location.

According to him, the fund was earmarked by the German government to enhance social-economic development of the settlements.

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Since the establishment of the AUBP, he said Germany had supported its implementation in over 20 countries with 10 ECOWAS member-states benefiting from the GIZ direct support.

He said: “The numerous border management activities had been conducted with tangible results and impact in the areas of regional and national policy development, delimitation, demarcation, reaffirmation, cross-border cooperation activities as well as capacity and organisational development.

“These activities were aimed at preventing border-related conflicts, strengthening the stabilisation of the region and fostering regional cooperation and integration.

“It is in this regard that the German Cooperation would like to extend its support to the AU Border Programme at the continental, regional and member-state levels through another three years phase 2020 to 2022 by providing an additional €18m.”

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