The Federal Government has welcomed and appraised the initiative of the United Nations (UN) to support Nigeria’s COVID-19 economic recovery efforts with a pledge of $250 million Plus Offer against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yemi Osinbajo, Vice President of Nigeria, while speaking in recognition of the UN’s plus offer stated that the support package aligns with the present administration’s Economic Sustainability Plans (ESP).
The Vice President said, ‘I think that rallying to support and thinking through a programme such as the UN Plus Offer for socio-economic recovery is a demonstration of the kinship that we developed with our partners and the United Nations.’
He proceeded by saying, ‘This initiative is also important because it mirrors our Economic Sustainability Plan and also does so in excellent complement of our plan. This is very helpful to us because we put together a plan that will cost us N2.3 trillion and half of that is in the form of loans and facilities and the other half of it is budgeted funds.’
Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, in a statement issued on Tuesday, revealed that the UN Plus Offer was an initiative of the UN in Nigeria in collaboration with the Nigeria Development Partners Group.
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According to the statement which reads in part, ‘The Offer aligns with the government’s Economic Sustainability Plan. It seeks to mobilize close to $250 million and will provide targeted support to the development of health response systems ($13.78 m); protecting people ($53.3m); macroeconomic stability and economic recovery ($30.7); as well as social protection ($26.6m) to assist communities in building back better.’
Operatives from the UN and development partners include Mr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, Special Representatives of the UN Secretary-General to the West Africa and the Sahel; Ms. Hannah Telleh, Special Representatives of the UN Secretary-General to the African Union; Mr. Edward Kallon, UN Resident Coordinator, Nigeria; and Christopher Pycroft, Co-Chair Nigeria Development Partners Group, among others.
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