EU Gives Nigeria N21bn To Fight Coronavirus

The European Union has given Nigeria €50million (approximately N21billion) to fight the Coronavirus disease which has killed at least 10 people in the West African country.
The donation was announced when President Muhammadu Buhari, received in audience the EU Delegation at the Council Chambers, State House, Abuja, yesterday.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, made this known via a tweet.
Adesina said Head of the EU delegation at the event, Amb Ketil Karlsen, who announced the donation, also commended Buhari for extending Lagos, Ogun, and Abuja lockdown.
Buhari commended the European Union for donating N21billion (50million Euros), to support Nigeria’s efforts at controlling the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic.
The president said that the donation would go a long way in supporting Nigeria’s efforts at controlling and containing the virus to prevent community spread.
“The money will also assist our efforts to revitalise the national health care systems,” Buhari said.
He also expressed Nigeria’s sincere condolences to the Government and people of EU-member countries and families who lost their loved ones as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘‘Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, friends, and communities impacted. We are confident from history that the resilience of Europe and our global collective will enable us to emerge stronger from this tragedy.
‘‘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,’’ he said.
The President also lauded EU on the recent launch of the “Team Europe” package to support countries in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic and its consequences.
According to him, the intervention, which is a collaboration between EU, its member states, and financial institutions such as the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, will go a long way in ensuring that the impact of the pandemic is controlled and contained.
‘‘Indeed, this brotherly support will save millions of lives. Nigeria, Africa and many beneficiary countries across the world will remain grateful for generations to come,’’ he said.