Dinny McGinley
Question:139 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on Ireland and the EU's formal contacts with Nigeria. [21546/02]
Written Answers. - Nigerian Democracy.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:197 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the report on the situation in Nigeria; the extent to which the democratic process has developed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21894/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 139 and 197 together.
The President of Nigeria, His Excellency Olusegun Obasanjo, paid a State visit to Ireland in June. It was the first visit to Ireland by a Nigerian head of state and was a welcome opportunity to discuss issues of common interest between our two countries. President Obasanjo was accompanied on his visit by his Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs, Science and Technology, Education and Power and Steel, and his national security adviser. This provided scope for a wide range of discussions, including topics such as business relations, human rights and immigration.
Deputies will be aware of the widespread concern at the death sentence, by stoning, imposed on a woman accused of adultery. The concern of the Government and the people of Ireland was conveyed to the Nigerian embassy in Dublin by my Department. On 24 August the EU issued a declaration expressing its deep concern regarding the sentence which was handed down by a Sharia court in northern Nigeria. The Nigerian Federal Government will also be aware of the EU Council conclusions of 30 September which expresses the Union's concern at the continued use of the death penalty world-wide and our abhorrence at the use of particularly cruel forms of punishment, such as stoning. Recently the Nigerian Government said that it will not allow the woman to be executed should her appeal fail.
Last April the EU renewed its common position on Nigeria as an indication of the high priority which the Union attaches to relations with Nigeria. The common position expresses the EU's intention to maintain a positive, constructive and consistent approach towards Nigeria, and to support it in its efforts to consolidate democracy and advance economic development. The common position identifies key areas for future EU support, including the development of a democratic culture, institutional capacity building and poverty reduction.
Arising from the common position, Nigeria and the EU are engaged in an ongoing political dialogue. On 11 June a meeting in Abuja was held under the framework of the dialogue discussed,inter alia, human rights, corruption and European Development Funding. The EU has committed funds of €552 million in the period to 2006. Ireland Aid has expended more than €4 million on development co-operation projects in Nigeria in the period 1997 to 2002. Funding has been focused primarily on addressing basic needs and the alleviation of poverty in sectors such as primary healthcare, basic education, water and sanitation, agriculture and rural development. Ireland Aid expenditure on projects and programmes in Nigeria was more than €610,000 during 2001 and has exceeded €370,000 so far in 2002. Ireland Aid's human rights and democratisation budget line has contributed funding of over €53,000 to a legal aid programme run by Trócaire. Its support to Nigeria evolved from the presence of Irish missionaries and funding continues to be channelled through NGOs and missionary orders in Nigeria.
Last May saw the publication of the report of the Human Rights Violations Investigation Panel, commonly known as the Oputa panel, which had been set up by President Obasanjo in 1999 to investigate human rights abuses under previous military regimes. The panel's report runs to 30,000 pages and has been praised by President Obasanjo, who has promised to act on its recommendations. The Government has established steering and co-ordination committees for the national action plan for human rights. The committees are expected to assess, report on and make recommendations in relation to human rights in Nigeria.
In October the International Court of Justice ruled that Nigeria should cede the disputed Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon. The UN has called on both countries to accept the decision of the ICJ and for Nigeria to withdraw its troops from the peninsula. Together, with our EU partners, we are closely monitoring Nigeria's response to this ruling.
Presidential elections are due to be held in Nigeria in 2003, most likely in April. The Nigerian authorities have stated that international observers will be welcome. We expect that the EU will be invited to provide observers in due course. One of the key areas in the EU's common position on Nigeria has been the development and consolidation of democratic reforms. To this end the EU has funded the Nigerian electoral support programme in order to provide civic and voter education; capacity building and training for domestic election observers; and monitoring and technical assistance to the Independent National Electoral Commission in Nigeria. The EU has provided €6.5 million to the INEC.
Next year's elections will be a crucial milestone in the consolidation of democratic institutions in Nigeria.