The
U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Symington said its government
has given N71.5 billion to the Federal Government to fight poverty in
the country.
*Photo used for illustrative purpose*
The United States Agency for International Development has
announced $227.3m (about N71.5 billion) additional developmental
assistance to support the five-year $2.3bn agreement signed with the
Federal Government in 2015.
The U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Symington, made the
announcement in a statement issued to newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said that the $227.3m had brought the total provision under the agreement to $702m.
According to him, the additional funding is intended to help
Nigeria reduce extreme poverty by stimulating inclusive economic growth,
promote healthier, more-educated population, and strengthen good
governance.
He said, “We are pleased to announce new funding under the
agreement signed with the Nigerian government in 2015 to provide better
access to education and health services and promote democracy and
economic growth
“We know this funding will significantly improve the well being of Nigerians.”
He said that USAID would collaborate with some federal and state
ministries to structure the agreement, which would run through 2020.
He listed the federal ministries to include Budget and National Planning, Health, Agriculture, Power, and Education.
The envoy said that the U.S. was also providing humanitarian
assistance to people affected by the Boko Haram crisis and food
insecurity in the North East and the Lake Chad Basin.
He said that the U.S. provided more than $291m in humanitarian
assistance to Nigeria in 2016, adding that his country remains the
single largest bilateral humanitarian donor to Nigeria.
-NAN
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