COVID-19: FG to Spend over N35bn For Third Wave as 36 States set to Receive N1bn Each

The Federal Government is set to release N36bn to states as part of measures to curb the rising COVID-19 cases and prevent the third wave of the virus.

The Benue State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Joseph Ngbea, who disclosed this in an interview with Punch on Wednesday, stated that the Federal Government promised to release the fund before the end of this month.

Ngbea also indicated that state commissioners of health would meet next week with the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 and the Federal Ministry of Health officials.

It was gathered that the meeting, would among others, map out ways to shore up testing, which according to a report by The PUNCH report on Friday dropped by 29 per in the last one month.

This came to the fore as the country recorded 404 cases on Tuesday, the highest in the last one month. No fewer than 1,276 new COVID-19 cases were recorded in the country between May 27 and June 27.

But between June 27 and July 27; 4,261 cases were recorded, representing an increase of 2,985 (233.93%) over 1,276 cases recorded between May 27 and June 27.

Recall that the World Bank Board of Directors had on August 7, 2020 approved a $114.28 financing to help Nigeria prevent, detect and respond to the threat posed by COVID-19 with a specific focus on state level responses.

According to the global body, through the COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Project, the government of Nigeria will provide grants to 36 and the Federal Capital Territory as immediate support to break the chain of COVID-19 local transmission and limit the spread of coronavirus through containment and mitigation strategies.

It stated the grants would be conditional on states adopting COVID-19 response strategies which were in line with the Federal Government guidelines and strategies.

A MUST TO READ: We wish to add you to our WhatsApp Database to get our trending and latest news directly into your WhatsApp Box as the news breaks.
Kindly CONTACT US 08072633727 📲 on WhatsApp/Call📞
Also, For your Advert Placement, Publicity, Press Release, Personality Promotion, Special Report, Featured story, Conference, Interviews, And So On.