The European Union (EU) is to support the move by Nigeria's Federal Government to improve access to energy with 460 million naira (about 3.1 million U.S. dollars), according to the Tribune on Sunday.

The fund, to be implemented under the EU SUNGAS, seeks to improve access to energy by Nigerians from renewable and non-renewable sources and would be implemented in the Niger Delta region over the next three years.

It would be managed by a group of three national nongovernmental organizations, Social Development Integrated Center, Niger Delta Wetlands Center and Living Earth Nigeria Foundation, in addition to an international NGO, Living Earth Foundation, under the leadership of the UK-based IIED.

Expected to be launched in Abuja on Dec. 7, the project is also to contribute to the reduction of poverty and conflict, as well as the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

A statement from the union noted that the project is also in line with the seven-point agenda of the current administration and would contribute to the reduction of the impact of climate change in the Niger Delta region.

The statement went further to note that a reformed policy framework to promote sustainable utilization of gas for community-based electricity provision and energy would be further developed by the programme.

It stated, "The product would work on scaling up and replicating lessons and successes of the pilot initiatives in order to satisfy the energy service requirements of communities in the Niger Delta.

It would also initiate networks and build capacity of institutions managing energy issues in Nigeria to be able continue work beyond the life of the project, including a multi-stakeholder Energy Policy Forum, a civil society coalition to address energy policy, and community energy councils in target communities."

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