NCDC Warns About Possible COVID-19 Explosion In Nigeria
In response to a Freedom of Information request jointly made by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP and Connected Development, the Federal Government says it spent N30.5 billion on efforts to curtail COVID-19.
Speaking on behalf of the federal government, the Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, said the amount represented 84 per cent of the N36.3bn public funds and donations received to tackle the pandemic.
He said the amount was spent between April and July this year adding that there was a balance of N5.9 billion.
SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oludare, quoted the Accountant General as saying the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 spent N22 billion, while 36 states spent N7 billion on COVID-19.
In a statement issued by Kolawole, the Accountant General added that the Nigerian Air Force spent N877 million on the deployment of assets in support of COVID-19 operations.
Also, the police spent N500 million on personal protective equipment while N17,865.09 was paid as bank charges.
However, SERAP and CODE urged Idris to respond to other information requested in the FoI letter.
The request includes the specific projects on which the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 spent N22bn and the list of Nigerians who benefitted from the projects.
PUNCH reported that out of the N36.3 billion public funds and donations received, N1.4 billion came from Nigerians and companies, N89 million and N279 million from the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively while N536 million donations were made through the Central Bank of Nigeria.
It was gathered that China General Chambers of Commerce in Nigeria donated N48 million, the Petroleum Equalisation Management Board donated N50 million while the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board donated N70 million.