By Adedapo Adesanya
As countries around the world continue to get funds to help sustain the impact of the COVID-19, Nigeria received a €50 million (N21 billion) grant from the European Union (EU) on Tuesday.
It was revealed that the largesse would be used to support the efforts at controlling the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
This disclosure was made by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in a tweet after the visit of the body’s delegation to the State House, Abuja today.
Writing via his personal account – @femadesina wrote: “EU gives Nigeria a grant of 50 million Euro to fight Covid-19.”
The Special Adviser noted that the Head of EU delegation, Ambassador Ketil Karlsen, at the event commended President Buhari for his powerful address to the nation on Monday.
It was also inferred that the EU ambassador supported the measure for the extension to combat the spread of the disease which had so far affected 343 people and killed 10 with 91 recoveries.
The rest of the tweet states – “Head of EU delegation, Amb Ketil Karlsen, at the event commended President Buhari for “your powerful address to the nation last night,” and for “the bold and necessary measures you’ve taken.”
Backing up Mr Adesina’s tweet, the President’s Personal Assistant on New Media, Mr Bashir Ahmad noted the European Union’s €50 million donation to Nigeria is the largest support the Union has so far given to any country outside the Europe.
The EU will channel the donation through the United Nations (UN) COVID-19 Basket Fund for Nigeria.
With 343 confirmed cases of #COVID-19 reported in Nigeria. 91 have been discharged with 10 deaths. Currently, Lagos has 189 new cases, FCT- 56, Osun- 20, Edo- 16, Oyo- 11.
Others include: Ogun – nine, Bauchi – six, Kaduna – six, Akwa Ibom – five, Katsina – five, Delta and Kano – three, Enugu – two, Ekiti – two, Rivers – two, Kwara – four, Ondo – three, Benue , Niger, and Anambra – one
Dipo Olowookere