NEWS RELEASES
AXWORTHY ANNOUNCES CANADA'S CONTRIBUTION IN SUPPORT OF NIGERIAN ELECTIONS
January 27, 1999 (4:00 p.m. EST) No. 13
AXWORTHY ANNOUNCES CANADA'S CONTRIBUTION
IN SUPPORT OF NIGERIAN ELECTIONS
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy and Minister for International Co-operation and Minister responsible for La
Francophonie Diane Marleau today announced Canada's contribution of $750 000, provided under the Canadian
International Development Agency's Peacebuilding Fund, to projects supporting fair and free elections in Nigeria.
Canada will also contribute $115 000 to a project supporting democratic development. The announcement was
made during a two-day visit by Minister Axworthy to Abuja, Nigeria.
"Canada is encouraged by the way in which recent municipal and regional elections were conducted in Nigeria,"
said Mr. Axworthy. "I hope that Canadian contributions made today will assist both the electoral process and the
peaceful transition to civilian rule promised by General Abubakar."
"By supporting Nigeria's move toward democracy, Canada is helping to advance overall development efforts in
Africa's most populous country," said Madame Marleau. "This is a pivotal moment for the people of Nigeria, and an
important step forward."
A contribution of $500 000 will be made through the Peacebuilding Fund to the Canadian Catholic Organization for
Development to support a coalition of non-governmental groups that are working together to ensure grassroots
participation in the Nigerian elections. Activities include educating and mobilizing voters, monitoring the electoral
process and tracking results.
A contribution of $250 000 will also be made through the Peacebuilding Fund to assist the United Nations
Secretariat in supporting efforts by Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission to hold fair and free
elections. Activities that the Secretariat plans to undertake include providing technical assistance to local election
officials and a base of operations for international election observers.
The Peacebuilding Fund is also supporting a $115 000 project with the International Institute for Democracy and
Electoral Assistance to provide analysis of the options available to support the transition to democracy in Nigeria,
and to promote both national and international democratic policy development in that country.
Municipal and regional elections took place on December 5 and January 9 respectively. Federal and presidential
elections are scheduled to be held on February 20 and 27. Nigerian General Abubakar has promised to install a
democratically elected civilian government by May 29 of this year.
Funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 1998 federal budget and is therefore built into the
existing fiscal framework.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Debora Brown
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Chantal Reinert
Office of the Minister for International Co-operation
and Minister responsible for La Francophonie
(819) 997-6919
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
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