US provides $92.7m to reduce poverty in Nigeria
US President Barack Obama speaks with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari (not seen) during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 71st United Nations General Assembly in New York, on September 20, 2016. PHOTO: AFP/ JIM WATSON
United States Government has announced the sum of $92.73 million in developmental assistance to support the five-year $2.3 billion agreement signed with the Federal Government in 2015.
The U.S. Embassy in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, said the amount was being provided through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
The embassy explained that the money brought the total of development assistance provided in the agreement to 474.74 million U.S. dollars.
“This funding will continue to help Nigeria reduce extreme poverty in a more stable, democratic society.
“Activities will stimulate inclusive economic growth, promote a healthier, more educated population, and strengthen good governance,” the embassy said.
It quoted the USAID Mission Director, Michael Harvey as expressing the confidence that the funding would have positive impact on Nigerians.
“Today we are pleased to contribute additional funding in support of the agreement signed with the Nigerian Government in 2015.
“With their leadership we know this funding will have a significant impact on the well-being of Nigerians,” It said.
The statement also said that said USAID had collaborated with the Federal ministries of Budget and National Planning, Health, Agriculture, Power, and Education in an effort to align Nigeria’s development plans with sector-specific strategies.
According to it, USAID also collaborated with state-level government counterparts to structure the agreement, which was in place until 2020.
“In addition to the developmental funding, the U.S. provides humanitarian assistance to people affected by the ongoing conflict and severe food insecurity in Nigeria and throughout the Lake Chad Basin.
“Since fiscal year 2015, the U.S. has provided more than 366 million dollars in humanitarian assistance and continues to be the single largest bilateral humanitarian donor to the region,” It added.
Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardian’s leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business, technology and sports.
2 Comments
I wish I have access to the Agreement signed btw the FGN and USAID for my input, which is that USAID should bypass the 3 tiers of Govt and work directly with community based associations to plan and implement poverty reduction programms
All these donations and promises for more without some physical or practical evidences where the funds were expended make the whole exercise unimpressive! Nigerians will like or want to see in practical evidences where the funds are expended in villages – sectors like properly constructed roads, housing program, clean water schemes, power energy and hospitals or medical facilities for women and for children in hamlets – the kind of thing you see in China! Incidentally Nigerian government has now established strong diplomatic, social and economic agreements (MOUs) with China and with their kind of growth in population you can learn a lot from that country if you have properly trained and clever team outfits or officials ( on exchange basis) to be able to see what they are doing in China that can be of use in Nigeria and not get out there for site-seeing and the anxiety to claim esta-coats or what have you end of the day the problems still remain!
We will review and take appropriate action.