The House of Commons International Development Select Committee has just announced it is holding an inquiry into the Department for International Development’s (DFID) programme in Nigeria.

Nigeria is one of the largest and most populous countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite oil wealth, poverty levels are high with over 70 million people living on less than $1 a day and one in five children dying before the age of five. Nigeria receives relatively little development assistance per capita (around $6) compared to the average for sub-Saharan Africa (over $20). DFID’s programme in Nigeria has increased from £35 million in 2003/04 to £80 million in 2006/07 and to £100 million in 2007/08. Nigeria is one of 22 countries DFID will be monitoring in relation to progress towards its 2008-11 Public Service Agreement Delivery Agreement.

The inquiry will look into, amongst other things, DFID’s support for the electoral process and to the National Assembly, the role of civil society and DFID’s support for the development of voice and accountability, Economic growth and the impact of DFID’s programme in this area, and Policy coherence in the UK Government’s approach.

The Committee has invited individuals and organisations with relevant expertise and experience to submit written evidence and is particularly interested in receiving evidence from organisations in Nigeria. The deadline for submissions is 8 February 2008. For more information, log on to the committee’s website at www.parliament.uk/indcom.