The European Union (EU) has promised to support Nigeria with 30 million euros for the next five years toward enhancing the fight against corruption.
Mr Samuela Isopi, the EU Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS said this in Abuja on Tuesday at the formal launch of the phase 11 of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme in Nigeria (RoLAC).
Isopi said that the programme would be implemented at the federal level and in five states.
She said that the five states included Adamawa, Anambra, Edo, Kano and Lagos.
Isopi also said that 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had so far domesticated the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP), Act 2015 to curb violence in states.
“The programme is aimed at supporting the strengthening of the rule of law and the fight against corruption.
“It is also aimed at reducing gender-based violence while promoting respect for human rights and ensuring inclusivity for all Nigerians,” she said.
She said that 1.5million Nigerians were covered in the first phase of the programme, adding that the second phase would be implemented in five states for five years.
“The states are Adamawa, Anambra, Edo, Kano, and Lagos, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with the possibility of extension to two more states,” she said.
The EU Ambassador highlighted the achievements of the first phase to include setting up and strengthening policies and processes.
She said that other achievements included increased inter-agency cooperation in the fight against corruption and creating synergies between government and civil society organisations.
She said that the second phase would focus on criminal justice, prison reform, curbing sexual and gender-based violence as well as strengthening and implementing anti-corruption policies and tools.
She said that the major obstacle to an effective war against corruption in Nigeria was enforcement.
On his part, the Head of the Programme, Nigeria International IDEA, Mr Danladi Plang said the overall objective of the RoLAC phase II was the consolidation of the rule of law and anti-corruption reforms in Nigeria.
Plang said Kano State was the only state in Nigeria that had yet to domesticate the VAPP Act.
He said that the programme was targeted at enhancing the performance, quality and oversight of the criminal justice system and justice service delivery.
In his goodwill message, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Abubakar Bagudu lauded the EU for the plans to launch the phase 11 of the programme.
“The RoLAC Phase Il identifies with the vision of the National Development Plan 2021-2025.
“This is for promotion of full participation of women in the economy as a strategy to substantially improve socio-economic indicators such as GDP growth, employment generation and poverty reduction,” he said.
Represented by Dr Lanre Adekanye, the Minister said that the implementation of Phase II was expected to have a robust coordination structure involving the justice and anti-corruption institutions.
This, he said was to increase their participation in the development and management of the anti-corruption and justice reform agenda.
Also, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, commended the leadership of RoLAC for its robust interface and quality programmes targeted at nation-building.
He was represented by Mrs Victoria Ojogbane, the Director of Planning Research, and Statistics at the Ministry.
Fagbemi said that the outcome of the programme would further bridge the gaps in criminal justice and administrative reform and enhance systems and structures in the justice sector.(NAN). READ ALSO:
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