USAID announces additional $65.5m to combat HIV/AIDS, extremism in Nigeria

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced additional assistance of $65.5 million to help achieve the development goals outlined in the bilateral U.S.-Nigerian Development Objectives Assistance Agreement signed in 2015.

A statement issued on Tuesday by the Public Affairs Division of the United States Embassy in Abuja, noted that the assistance brings incremental funding of the Agreement with Nigeria to $1.17 billion, representing 48 percent of the $2.45 billion pledged by USAID under the five-year plan.

“We are pleased to reaffirm our partnership with Nigeria to strengthen human capital and institutions, and to promote the health and opportunities for all Nigerians,” Mission Director Stephen M. Haykin said following the announcement.

Of the new funding, $59.33 million will support activities under the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). PEPFAR partners closely with government, the private sector, philanthropies, multilateral institutions, and civil society to assist people living with HIV and their families.

“An additional $4.67 million will go toward a new activity aimed at strengthening the ability of state and local governments in the Northeast to deliver essential public services to their constituents, and $1.5 million to help reduce violent conflict and to deter violent extremist groups.

The statement added that the USAID collaborated with Nigeria’s ministries of Budget and National Planning, Health, Agriculture, Power, and Education, as well as state-level government counterparts to structure the bilateral assistance agreement, which runs through 2020.

USAID leads international development and humanitarian efforts to save lives, reduce poverty, strengthen democratic governance and help people progress beyond assistance through social services, supports transparent and accountable governance, promotes a more market-led economy, and enhances Nigeria’s capacity as a responsible regional and trade partner.

 Innocent Odoh, Abuja