COVID-19: EU donates EUR 50M to Nigeria

 

The European Union (EU) has announced a EUR 50 million (N21 billion) contribution towards the implementation of a coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.

The new donation was announced in a meeting Tuesday by officials of the EU with President Muhammadu Buhari, at State House, Abuja.

“Although the EU is facing significant challenges due to this pandemic, I am indeed touched and grateful that the European Union still had the vision and foresight to remember its friends, partners and allies across the world,” President Buhari said.

The funding for Nigeria is aimed at ensuring optimum care for the confirmed cases of the virus while containing further spread through an inclusive, national response.

Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen stressed that “COVID-19 must be fought globally. The EU support is focused on the people most at risk. Africa and Nigeria are vital priorities, and must not be forgotten or left alone. Now more than ever we want to show solidarity with our partners.”

The funding will be channeled through the One UN COVID-19 Basket Fund launched in concert with the Nigerian authorities during the week.

The EU intervention will focus on the 10 key pillars of the National COVID-19 Response Plan, including coordination, socio-economic measures, such as cash transfers or food distribution to vulnerable groups, scaling up surveillance, testing, isolation, contact tracing, personal protection equipment for medical staff, disinfectants for medical facilities, risk communication, community engagement, clinical management of the critically unwell COVID-19 patients.