European Union (EU) has voted 32 million Euros to boost the energy sectors in Nigeria and neighbouring West African nations. The AGoSE-AO programme, seeking to improve governance in the sub-region and commissioned through the 11th European Development Fund (EDF), is being implemented between May 2022 and April 2024.
The project has been designed within the framework of a cooperation agreement among the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) and EU under the 11th EDF.
ECOWAS officials, in conjunction with EU and other development partners, yesterday, held talks in Abuja to achieve the goal. Organised by ECOWAS and WAEMU, the event was attended by the ECOWAS specialised agencies in charge of energy, namely ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), West African Power Pool (WAPP) and ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA).
Other attendees were the European Union Delegations to Nigeria, Benin and Burkina Faso, German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), Energy Charter, British Council and NTU International A/S.
Speaking on the occasion, representative of EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS Commission, Mrs. Anastasia Oikonomou, explained that the project is geared at strengthening West African energy architecture and regional institutions for global challenges.
Director of Energy and Mines, ECOWAS Commission and chairman of the meeting, charged stakeholders in the sector to forge a path for enhanced governance, transparency and accountability in the interest of sustainable development and poverty alleviation in West Africa.
Team Leader for AGoSE AO programme, Emmanuel Ramde, said one of the components of the initiative was to harmonise regulatory and legal frameworks within the region with a view to ensuring a secure, transparent, stable and vibrant energy market that could attract investors and boost access to modern, affordable, reliable and sustainable services. He stressed that access to modern, affordable, reliable and sustainable energy services remains key to poverty alleviation.
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