FG, Germany sign €10m aid to eradicate polio in Nigeria

In order to completely get rid of polio in Nigeria, the Federal Government and the Government of Germany have signed €10 million aid agreement.

The agreement that was signed in Abuja between Geoffrey Onyeama, foreign affairs minister, and Bernhard Schlagheck, German ambassador to Nigeria.

Onyeama said the €10 million grant would facilitate Nigeria’s quest to totally eradicate polio in the country. He was unhappy that the Federal Government efforts were hampered by activities of terrorism in the North Eastern part of the country.
According to Onyeama, “I just have to take this opportunity to express our profound gratitude to the government of Germany for this support. As you know we have come very close to eradicating polio in the world, but you know there are still one or two issues.
“And, the problem we have in the north east has exacerbate the situation and made it more difficult to eradicate. However we really appreciate the fact that they are partners who has taken with us.”
The German ambassador said the grant would go a long way in achieving the desired goal, as “Germany is to support Nigeria with €10 million to eradicate polio in Nigeria.
“We have engaged with the government of Nigeria for some time mostly under the assistance of the WHO and we want to continue with our engagement. As I said together with government of Nigeria we had achieve some remarkable successes here in Nigeria, on some outstanding issues.
“We want to increase and consolidate our engagement and that is actually what we just did, I hope very much that polio will be removed from the country before long.”

LAIDE AKINBOADE-ORIERE