Heir Apparent to the British throne, Prince Charles, yesterday said the United Kingdom is to increase its investments in Nigeria to the tune of a hundred million pounds sterling or about N24 billion in the next two years.
Charles, who is currently on tour of Nigeria, said during his visit to Dawakin Kudu in Kano State that Britain, intends to increase development assistance to northern Nigeria.
He disclosed that Britain, through the Department for International Development (DFID), has been supporting development in Nigeria since 1997, adding that with the restoration of democracy the support would increase substantially from a modest twenty million pounds in 2001.
In order to develop and manage the increased support to the North, DFID has opened an office in Kano as a clear demonstration of Britain�s long-term commitment to Nigeria.
The new office will work closely with state governments and other stakeholders to develop and implement poverty reduction programmes.
Press and Public Affairs Officer, British High Commission, Abuja, Mr. Graeme Ballantyne said DFID would build upon the substantial programme of assistance already underway. “Support for better and more accountable government is being provided through our twenty seven million pounds sterling (N6.48bn) support to strengthen State and Local Governance Programme (SLGP) which focuses upon delivering practical benefits to the poor. Communities will get better access to quality health care through DFID�s thirty three million pounds (N9.36bn) Partnership to Transform Health Services (PATHS).