By Emmanuel Elebeke & Damilola Faniyi

The European Union Commission, yesterday, announced an additional funding of Euro15 million (N3.3bn) to support Nigeria in scaling up its activities in the run up to the 2015 general elections.

The funding, coming as phase II of the support to Nigeria’s electoral cycle for 2011 to 2015, will compliment the initial financial envelop of 20 million Euro (N4.1bn) provided under the 10th EDF support.

The programme was conceived to support the Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, involved in electoral process, while improving quality of political engagement.

It will be recalled that the 10th EDF Support to Electoral Cycle is ongoing, but allocated resources under it are not enough to support activities in the upcoming election and thus the need for support from the bridging facility to cope with the transition period between the 10th and 11th EDF.

Announcing the donation in Abuja, Head of the EU delegation to Nigeria, Ambassador Michel Arrion, said the funding will also facilitate the implementation of specific activities by the electoral management body, INEC, and other key stakeholders.