The European Union (EU) Commission has announced that it has approved a three-year Digital Economy package worth 820 million Euros for Nigeria.
Executive Vice-President of the EU Commission, Margarete Vestager, stated that this was part of a Global Gateway Africa-Europe investment package worth 150 billion Euros announced recently by the President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Layen Vestager, who spoke when she led a delegation of the EU commission on a visit to the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibajo, at the state House, Abuja where she announced an EU-Nigeria Digital Economy package of 820 million Euros until 2024.
She stated that the package would help enhance secure connectivity, digitise public services support entrepreneurship and build digital skills, while developing a people-centric democratic governance framework for technology.
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Responding, Osibajo welcomed the EU Digital Economy support, which he described as “impressive,” noting that the use of digital technology is crucial in Nigeria’s recently released National Development Plan.
Osinbajo added that it was a relief that the EU supported the view canvassed by Nigeria that gas should be considered a transition fuel, as the global community moves towards net- zero emissions targets.
“We are relieved to hear of the EU’s support on gas transition fuel. It is a relief and Nigeria has been in the forefront of the international advocacy on the issue,” he said.
The EU and the Vice President discussed the use of digital technology, trade and investment, as well as the importance of energy relationship between Nigeria and the EU, while a consideration of all options for increased supply of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from Nigeria to the EU was agreed upon following a request from the EU.
They also noted the importance of renewed Nigeria-EU partnership at the meeting, including expectations for a successful European Union-Africa Union (EU-AU) summit in Brussels, Belgium.
