2015: UK commits 35m pounds to Democratic Governance in Nigeria

The UK Department for International Development

(DFID) has committed 35 million pounds to a five-

year programme aimed at deepening democracy in

Nigeria, a top official has said.

Mr Mark Lowcock, Permanent Secretary at the

UK’s DFID, announced this on Tuesday night in

Abuja during a reception to launch the programme.

The programme, tagged “DFID’s Deepening

Democracy in Nigeria 2 (DDiN2)’’, hopes to make

political, electoral and democratic institutions in

Nigeria more “efficient, effective and responsive”.

Lowcock said: “Nigeria matters. For the 180 million

Nigerians living in it, it matters for Africa and it

matters for the UK.

“This global focus on Nigeria represents an

important moment for the country.

“As Africa’s biggest democracy, countries look to

Nigeria to lead the continent in many ways.

Delivering credible elections in 2015 is a key pillar

of that leadership.”

The UK official said supporting the 2015 elections in

Nigeria was a vital part of DFID’s global

commitment to support freer and fairer elections

across the globe.

He explained that the programme was designed to

work across Nigeria’s electoral cycle to strengthen

presidential, national and state elections, and

mitigate the risks of violence.

He added that DDiN2 was working in partnership

with different people and political organisations,

including the National Assembly, INEC, civil society

groups and international partners.

“It is through all of us working together that we can

improve the probability of credible and safe

elections in 2015,” he said.

On the forthcoming elections in Ekiti and Osun,

Lowcock reminded INEC of the need to demonstrate

successful electoral management in partnership

with political parties and security agencies.

He reiterated UK’s concern about levels of

insecurity and the potential for violence during

elections in Nigeria.

“INEC has a very important role to play to ensure

these elections are credible, fair and safe.

“Let me take this opportunity to underline our

continuing support to INEC through the 2015

elections and beyond,” he said.