Development cooperation focuses on energy (oil and gas) and good governance
The development cooperation between Norway and Nigeria started in 2000 with the advent of democratic rule and focuses on energy (oil and gas sector) and governance.
Both Norway and Nigeria are prominent international producers and exporters of petroleum and gas products. In 2000 a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Government of Norway and the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for developing Nigeria's indigenous industry through transfer of technology and capacity building. The two main areas of cooperation are the institutional cooperation between Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) in Stavanger and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Lagos, together with the work related to local content and industrial cooperation done by INTSOK, a Norwegian industry umbrella organisation. In addition, a large number of Norwegian and Nigerian institutions are partners under the MoU, such as the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC), the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), PETRAD, NORAD and the Norwegian Embassy in Abuja. Norway is also supporting Nigeria's initiative to stop gas flaring.
In order to support the Government of Nigeria's reform programme and strengthening the democratic institutions, Norway supports the National Governance Programme. Funding for the Governance Progamme is channeled through the UNDP and is for capacity building in the Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligence Unit (BMPI).
A small number of NGO's are supported mainly for activities on women and gender issues and for the prevention of trafficking in persons.
Norway's annual total development budget for Nigeria in 2006 is approx. USD 2,2 million (NOK 13 million).
Norway also supports peace and security in West-Africa. Over the coming years Norway will contribute to ECOWAS' peace building and conflict prevention efforts by supporting the ECOWAS Peace Fund and the ECOWAS Small Arms Programme (ECOSAP). ECOWAS plays a key role in promoting peace, stability and good governance among its 15 member states and is also increasingly an important partner for the international community, the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN).
jegr@mfa.no