President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja praised the European Union (EU) for donating the sum of N21 billion (50 million euros) to support Nigeria’s efforts at controlling the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Receiving the EU delegation to the country, led by Amb Ketil Karlsen, President Buhari said the donation would go a long way in supporting Nigeria’s efforts at controlling & containing the virus to prevent community spread, as well as revitalise the national health care systems.
The President used the occasion to express sincere condolences of the Government and people of Nigeria to European Union-member countries and families who lost their loved ones as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In his remarks, Ambassador Karlsen described the donation, channelled through the UN COVID-19 basket fund as, so far, the largest single contribution to the response in Nigeria and the largest support that European Union is providing anywhere outside Europe.
The European Union Ambassador congratulated President Buhari for “a very powerful address to the nation last night”, stressing “indeed the current situation is no joke and we wish to commend you for taking bold and necessary measures.”
He also announced that the European Union was mobilising other sources of funding, noting that they have already paid 1.2 million Euros to UNICEF, and goods purchased through that funding are expected in the country soon.
