France has earmarked 677 million euros (one billion U. S. dollars) for the implementation of various economic and social programs in Nigeria between 2009 and 2013, the Nigerian Tribune newspaper reported on Wednesday.
Jean-Michael Dumond, French ambassador to Nigeria, disclosed this on Tuesday during a visit to Governor Ibrahim Shema of northern Nigeria's
Katsina State.
Dumond said the amount would be disbursed to states, local governments, communities and other civil societies for the improvement of socio-economic sectors.
According to him, the bilateral cooperation was as a result of President Umaru Yar'Adua's visit to France last year.
The ambassador, who described the political relationship between his country and Nigeria as cordial, commended the president for the present
democratic structure and the rule of law being pursued as the right step.
He assured the country of France's cooperation and support in areas such as decertification, deforestation, improvement of power supply, women empowerment and teacher training for which two centers have been established in Jos and Katsina.
Earlier, the state governor, Shema said the state would give support and cooperation to the French projects in Nigeria.
He called for the integration of the Service to Humanity Foundation, the pet project of his wife, in the program actions of the French projects to enable women to benefit from the gesture.
According to him, the foundation is giving priority to fight sickle-cell, improvement of the environment and other societal menaces in the state.