EU actively supporting Nigeria’s fight against insecurity, says envoy

Gautier Mignot, European Union (EU) ambassador to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), says the bloc is actively supporting Nigeria’s fight against insecurity and funding peace-building initiatives across the country.

Mignot spoke in Abuja on Wednesday during an end-of-year media briefing on the EU’s engagements and achievements in Nigeria.

The envoy noted that the spotlight has been very much on insecurity in recent times, which he noted has been “for good reasons”.

“But there are others like poverty and social inequalities. We also have been insisting very much on the need to urgently tackle with humanitarian and life-saving assistance the malnutrition crisis affecting, particularly, hundreds of thousands of children in north-west and north-east,” he said.

“Protecting all populations, and in particular minorities and IDPs, is particularly essential. This is what we have done in particular after the Yelwata killing in Benue state in June.

“In the north, we have launched a northern package of some €300 million of Team Europe funding.

“The EU stands with the populations affected by a humanitarian crisis, particularly children and women in the north-west and north-east.

“While the EU may not fill the vacuum left by those who have withdrawn, Nigeria can count on us as its reliable partners for all times. This year alone, we have committed nearly €50 million in humanitarian assistance to address the problem of malnutrition.”

‘NIGERIA’S INSECURITY COMPLEX’

On the sidelines of the event, Mignot told TheCable that it is important to recognise that Nigeria’s insecurity is a complex challenge with many drivers.

“Religion is one, but it’s not the only one,” he said.

“Of course, freedom of religion is a key principle; it must be respected. But there are many other drivers for insecurity and violence in Nigeria.

“What the EU has been doing already for many years, with their member states, is to support Nigeria, both to face insecurity with kinetic and non-kinetic measures and also to address root causes of insecurity, and the 300 million euro package of projects that we have launched this year in north in particular is a response to this.”

The envoy empathised with the abducted pupils of St Mary School in Niger state and their families, alongside victims of recent attacks and abductions across the country.

Mignot said the EU is ready to enhance its support by planning to hold its first peace, security and defence dialogue with Nigeria early next year.

He added that the talks could unlock new funding.