NEWS
World Bank Pledges Fresh $1.57bn Aid For Nigeria’s Healthcare, Others
In a move to strengthen human capital and enhance climate resilience in Nigeria, the World Bank has approved three major funding initiatives totaling $1.57 billion.
The initiatives will focus on improving healthcare services for women, children, and adolescents, while also boosting the country’s preparedness for climate-related challenges such as floods and droughts through better dam safety and irrigation systems.
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The new funding includes $500 million for the Health and Education Governance Project (HOPE-GOV), $570 million for the Primary Healthcare Provision Strengthening Program (HOPE-PHC), and $500 million for the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria Project (SPIN).
Healthcare and Education Improvements
The combined HOPE-GOV and HOPE-PHC programs are set to improve the delivery of essential services in Nigeria’s basic education and primary healthcare sectors, which are critical to human capital development.
Specifically, the HOPE-GOV initiative will tackle governance challenges that have impeded effective service delivery in these sectors.
Key objectives include improving financial and human resource management, enhancing the recruitment and performance of teachers and healthcare workers, and boosting transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.
The HOPE-PHC program, supported by a $500 million concessional credit from the International Development Association (IDA) and an additional $70 million from the Global Financing Facility (GFF), aims to significantly reduce maternal and child mortality by increasing the quality and availability of core reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health services.
The program is expected to benefit 40 million people, especially vulnerable populations.
Climate Resilience and Sustainable Power
The SPIN project is focused on addressing Nigeria’s vulnerabilities to climate change by improving dam safety and optimizing water management for hydropower and irrigation.
By enhancing these critical infrastructures, the program aims to build the country’s resilience to extreme weather events like floods and droughts, while supporting sustainable energy generation.
The Global Financing Facility (GFF) support to Nigeria’s healthcare system includes $11 million coming from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and $12.5 million from the Children’s Investment Foundation Fund (CIFF).
This joint financing with the GFF aims to bridge the funding gap in primary and community healthcare, as well as maternal and newborn care at the hospital level.
The funds will also support the Nigerian government’s efforts to secure sustainable financing for family planning commodities.
SPIN Program to Bolster Climate Resilience and Water Management
The Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) program will help safeguard Nigerian communities against the impacts of floods and droughts through improved dam safety and operations.
Additionally, it will deliver new and upgraded irrigation and drainage services across 40,000 hectares of land, benefiting up to 950,000 people, including households, farmers, and livestock breeders.
The program is designed to enhance climate resilience and agricultural productivity by making irrigation systems more efficient and reliable.
Under the SPIN project, the Nigerian government will also develop a comprehensive hydropower master plan and structure a public-private partnership for a future hydropower project, further boosting the country’s energy capacity.
Strengthening Human Capital for Long-Term Gains
Dr. Ndiamé Diop, the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, emphasized the importance of investing in the health and education sectors to improve Nigerians’ future employment prospects, productivity, and earnings, particularly for vulnerable populations.
“This new financing will help tackle the complex challenges that Nigerians—especially women and girls—face in accessing quality services, while also addressing the governance issues that contribute to these difficulties,” said Diop.
He added, “The SPIN program is timely and will protect Nigerians from the adverse effects of floods and droughts, while increasing hydropower generation.
“The positive impact of this project on people and livelihoods is significant, and the World Bank is proud to collaborate with the government and other stakeholders to implement it.”
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja on Sunday, January 26, 2025, to participate in the Africa Heads of State Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The two-day summit, scheduled for January 27-28, 2025, is aimed at advancing “Mission 300,” a pan-African initiative to provide electricity to 300 million people across the continent by 2030.
Hosted by the Tanzanian government in collaboration with the African Development Bank Group and the World Bank, the summit will bring together African leaders, private sector stakeholders, development partners, and civil society organizations.
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The goal is to develop strategies for accelerating energy access in underserved regions, increasing renewable energy adoption, and mobilizing private sector investment.
According to a statement released on Saturday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President, the summit will serve as a platform for sharing expertise, knowledge, and resources to address Africa’s energy challenges.
The first day of the summit will feature ministerial-level discussions, during which participating nations, including Nigeria, will present their national energy strategies, or “compacts,” detailing their plans to achieve universal energy access within five years.
On the second day, African Heads of State will sign the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration, a unified roadmap for achieving the goals of Mission 300.
President Tinubu is expected to deliver a national statement reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to universal energy access and its leadership role in the continent’s energy sector.
He will also highlight Nigeria’s ongoing clean energy initiatives and integrated energy delivery strategies aimed at fostering sustainable development across Africa.
Accompanying the president will be key government officials, including Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, and Special Adviser to the President on Energy Olu Verheijen.
President Tinubu is set to return to Abuja immediately after the summit concludes.
The menace of illegal migration is getting diplomatic attention from the Italian authorities and the Edo State Government.
The Chief Press Secretary to Edo State Governor, Fred Itua divulged this in a government house statement issued in Benin City on Saturday.
He explained that the Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Edesili Anani had expressed the readiness of the Governor, Monday Okpebholo-led administration to tackle the menace of irregular migration among youths in the state.
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It was gathered that Anani made the stance public on Friday in Government House, Benin City, when Dr. Alberto Cilala, a consultant to the European Union and President of Mattei Africa for Humanitarian Aids Initiative in Italy, led a delegation to her office.
Welcoming the delegation, she highlighted the importance of collaboration to address the challenges posed by irregular migration.
The Coordinator expressed her gratitude to the delegation, and emphasized the transformative impact the partnership will bring to Edo State.
In her words, “This initiative will reduce unemployment, create job opportunities, and address human trafficking and irregular migration. It will also enhance education, skills acquisition, agricultural investment, and infrastructural development for our people.”
On his part, Dr. Cilala emphasized that the Mattei Plan would provide valuable skills to Edo State residents, including tailoring, furniture-making, shoemaking, and more.
“The Mattei Plan was launched by the Italian Government with a focus on six key sectors: education and training, health, security, agriculture, and renewable energy. The goal is to promote integrated development and improve living conditions, particularly in rural areas.
“These projects will be fully funded by the Italian Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Labour,” he stated.
Former Senior Special Assistant to the Edo State Government on Anti-Human Trafficking and Irregular Migration, Solomon Okoduwa, in his remarks, said the Mattei Plan prioritizes practical measures to reduce irregular migration and human trafficking.
“Although nine African countries are involved in this initiative, Edo State is a crucial partner for Italy. This partnership will strengthen bilateral relations under the leadership of His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo,” he said.
Brand Ambassador of the Mattei Plan, Olorogun John Paul, popularly known as Daddy Showkey was at the event and lauded the initiative.
He noted, “This program provides an opportunity for Edo State beneficiaries to gain training in various skills, equipping them for sustainable livelihoods.”
Supporters of the impeached Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, on Saturday morning stormed the Speaker’s Lodge located at 47 Joel Ogunnaike Street, GRA Ikeja, Lagos.
The supporters, dressed in pro-Obasa vests and caps, arrived in large numbers at the premises.
According to multiple sources, the group was planning a “heroic welcome” for the former Speaker, who was recently removed from office by a majority of lawmakers in the House.
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Obasa, who was out of the country at the time of his impeachment, was replaced by the former deputy speaker, Mojisola Meranda.
Since her emergence as Speaker, Meranda has presided over two sittings, with Obasa absent from both.
The choice of the Speaker’s Lodge as the location for Obasa’s supposed welcome sparked controversy, as he is no longer officially entitled to the property following his removal.
A resident in the area expressed surprise over the situation, saying, “I didn’t expect that the lodge would be opened for them.”
Armed security personnel, including police officers, were deployed to the area to maintain order and prevent any potential disruption.
As of the time of filing this report, Obasa had yet to arrive at the lodge.
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