US provides additional N71.5bn assistance to reduce poverty in Nigeria

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced 227.3 million dollars (about N71.5 billion) additional developmental assistance to support the five-year 2.3 billion dollars agreement signed with the Federal Government in 2015.

The U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Stuart Symington, made the announcement in a statement issued to newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said that the 227.3 million dollars had brought the total provision under the agreement to 702 million dollars.

According to him, the additional funding is intended to help Nigeria reduce extreme poverty by stimulating inclusive economic growth, promote healthier, more-educated population, and strengthen good governance.

“We are pleased to announce new funding under the agreement signed with the Nigerian government in 2015 to provide better access to education and health services and promote democracy and economic growth

“We know this funding will significantly improve the well being of Nigerians,” Symington said.

He said that USAID would collaborate with some federal and state ministries to structure the agreement, which would run through 2020.

He listed the federal ministries to include Budget and National Planning, Health, Agriculture, Power, and Education.

The envoy said that the U.S. was also providing humanitarian assistance to people affected by the Boko Haram crisis and food insecurity in the North East and the Lake Chad Basin.

He said that the U.S. provided more than 291 million dollars in humanitarian assistance to Nigeria in 2016, adding that his country remains the single largest bilateral humanitarian donor to Nigeria.