We Have Spent N30.5bn On COVID-19 In Four Months – FG

The Federal Government said it has spent N30.5 billion on efforts to curb the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) between April and July this year.

This was disclosed by Ahmed Idris, the Accountant General of the Federation, in response to a Freedom of Information request jointly made by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Connected Development.

Kolawole Oludare, SERAP’s Deputy Director, in a statement on Sunday said Idris indicated that “the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 spent N22 billion; while 36 states spent N7 billion on COVID-19”.

The statement also noted that the amount represented 84 per cent of the N36.3 billion public funds and donations received by the Federal Government to curb the pandemic.

Idris, according to the statement, added that the Nigerian Air Force spent N877 million on the deployment of assets in support of COVID-19 operations; the police spent N500 million on personal protective equipment; while N17,865.09 was paid as bank charges.

The statement partly read: “It is refreshing to note that 115 ordinary Nigerians donated between N1 and N100 to support the authorities’ efforts to fight COVID-19, despite the fact that it is the country’s poorest and most disadvantaged sectors of the population that continue to bear the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Of the N36.3 billion public funds and donations received, N1.4 billion came from Nigerians and companies through accounts at the First Bank; Access Bank; GTB, Zenith, and UBA, while N536 million donations were made through the Central Bank of Nigeria. The N536 million donations comprise of N89 million and N279 million from the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively.

“In addition, China General Chambers of Commerce in Nigeria donated N48 million; the Petroleum Equalisation Management Board gave N50 million while the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board donated N70 million.

While commending Idris for honouring the FoI request, SERAP and CODE, however, urged him to respond to other information requested in the FoI letter, including the specific projects on which the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 spent N22bn and the list of Nigerians who benefitted from the projects.

“We would be grateful if the requested details and additional information are provided to us within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP and CODE shall take all appropriate legal actions under the Freedom of Information Act and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to compel you to comply with our request,” the statement read.