To strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness to combat Coronavirus (COVID19), the Federal Government has released N386 million to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Port Health Services Department of the Federal Ministry of Health.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health (FMOH), Abdulaziz Mashi Abdulaziz, told reporters in Abuja that the amount was released by the government in two batches.
According to Abdulaziz, “While the first batch of N71 million was released at the end of January to facilitate activities of the Port Health Services department of the ministry, the second was released after the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said the government had budgeted N620 million to curtail the virus from entering Nigeria when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Health.
“It is true that intervention was sought from the Presidency and the Ministry of Finance and Budget Planning.
“Because of the level of the emergency, I can confirm to you that N71million was released to the Port Health Services division of the (health) ministry.
“The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), was also given N315 million directly. Other requests are in the pipeline and yet to be released,” he said.
