Corona Virus: Nigeria gets $18.2 million grant from Japan, to release N6.5bn to NCDC, N10bn to Lagos State

The Nigerian government will release N6.5 billion to the NCDC to combat the spread of Corona Virus in the country, according to the Finance Minister, Zainab Ahmed.

She made this disclosure during a meeting with the leadership of the National Assembly in Abuja on Wednesday.

Ms Ahmed, the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria and other executive officials met with the lawmakers to discuss the planned budget review as well as the effect of the pandemic and recent oil price crash on the nation’s economy.

She disclosed that the federal government would be releasing N6.5 billion in two tranches (N1.5 billion and N5 billion) to the NCDC as intervention to assist in the fight against the spread of the COVID-19 disease in Nigeria.

The Lagos State Government would receive financial support from the federal government to the tune of N10 billion to combat Ccoronavirus spread in the state, she said.

She also informed the lawmakers that Nigeria had received a grant of $18.2 million from Japan for strengthening seven NCDC centres across the country. She added that N1 billion would be released by government to pharmaceutical firms in the country.