THE World Bank has approved $114 million to help Nigeria tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.
The apex bank, in a statement said the money comes in the form of a $100 million loan and a $14 million grant to be split between Nigeria’s 36 states and federal-level procurement of medical equipment, tests and medicine.
The World Bank’s director for Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri, said: “Nigeria has ramped up its efforts to contain the COVID-19 outbreak, but more needs to done at the state level, which are at the front line of the response.
“The project will provide the states with much needed direct technical and fiscal support to strengthen their position in combating the pandemic.
“Through the COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Project (CoPREP), the Federal Government was expected to provide grants to 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as immediate support to break the chain of COVID- 19 local transmission and limit the spread of coronavirus through containment and mitigation strategies.
According to the World Bank, grants to states will be conditional on states adopting COVID-19 response strategies which are in line with the Federal Government guidelines and strategies.
CoPREP will enhance the institutional and operational capacity for disease detection through provision of technical expertise, coordination support, detection, diagnosis and case management efforts in all states and the FCT as per the WHO guidelines in the Strategic Response Plan.
CoPREP will finance further support to all states and Abuja Federal Capital Territory through the NCDC to implement their COVID-19 Incident Action Plans. The bank said the loan was its initial response to help mitigate the slump in oil prices and its impact on the country’s economy.
