The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has advised the European Union to make its impact felt among African nations beyond its routine election monitoring mission.

He urged the union to leverage the withdrawal of aid to developing countries by the United States to do more for African countries, which are hit by the measure.

Abbas stated this in Abuja on Wednesday while hosting the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States, Ambassador Gautier Mignot.

A statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, Musa Krishi, quoted him as saying, “I just want to draw our attention to some things that I feel the European Union can do better. You have tried tremendously in terms of capacity, especially in areas of election monitoring, particularly in Nigeria. But I see a trend that is a bit uncomfortable from your side that the EU needs to address.

“Asia is fast approaching Africa. You should have dominant investments and stakes in Africa. But what we have today is that the majority of the investments are coming from Asia. Less and fewer investments from the EU are being witnessed in Africa.

“I believe it is an area that we need to holistically look at and see how we can continue to make the EU more relevant to Nigeria and to Africa. There are many areas in which we have already advanced in our relationship over the last 50 years.

Just last week, we received the Ambassador of China to Nigeria, and the kind of ambitious plans we heard him say about China and Nigeria, as well as Africa, are unprecedented. Some weeks ago, I also had the opportunity to meet with the Indian Ambassador, and I heard about the kind of ambitious plans they have.

“We don’t hear much from the EU these days as far as Africa is concerned, perhaps, except in the area of elections and security.

“But when it comes to real investments, the EU is not progressing at the rate it should. We believe if there is any country or union that deserves to stamp its feet in Africa, it is the EU. So, I want to use this opportunity to urge that more collaboration needs to come onboard between Africa and the EU.”

Earlier, Mignot described Nigeria as a key partner to the EU, not only for the future but also for the present, especially with the recent developments in the US under President Donald Trump.

The ambassador said the EU is committed to partnerships with African countries, especially Nigeria, describing the country as a “Trade and investment partner,” stressing that the EU will champion more investments, especially in Nigeria.




https://punchng.com/africa-needs-more-than-election-monitoring-speaker-tells-eu/