NGF, NCDC Sign MoU On World Bank N3.7b COVID-19 Assisted Fund To States, FCT

The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and the National Centre for Diseases Control (NCDC) on Wednesday in Abuja, signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the World Bank N3.7 billion COVID-19 response suport to states and the FCT.

The MoU “Nigeria COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Project (NIGERIA CoPREP) was jointly signed by the Chairman of the NGF, Dr Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti and NCDC Chairman, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu.

Ihekweazu disclosed that the MoU for the N3.7b going for N100 million to each state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was to enable states access the fund, which would be paid directly to a dedicated account of each state government, after meeting the necessary requirements.

 

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He said that the objective of the fund supported by the World Bank was to prevent, detect, and response to threat posed by COVID-19 at the states-level in Nigeria.

“Since last year we have already said that our focus for this year would be on the states. Even before this outbreak our strategic direction in NCDC was to support the state to build health facilities.

“We did not know where we will get the resources from and we did not know we will be confronted with an outbreak of this extent.

“Sadly, from January we have been faced with this challenge across the world.

“We have come to that realisation that we have to invest in the health sector. We can do that at the federal level alone. We have to do it at both states and even local government Level,” Ihekweazu said.

He said that the NCDC had come to collective agreement with the World Bank to use part of the Regional Survelance Sysytem Enhancement (REDISSE) project to accelerate the development of the state health facilities.

He pledged to accelerate the process of ensuring that state access the fund to make sure that specifically they respond to COVID-19 outbreak while future fund could focus on building states capacity in the long run.

In his remarks, Fayemi commended the NCDC and the World Bank for their supports to the states especially in tackling COVID-19 pandemic, saying they have been of great assistance to the all the states.

He said that the governors saw the fund as a vehicle to help state to enhance the infrastructure particular at the primary healthcare level and work more with other relevant agencies.

Fayemi said that the support fund when finally accessed by states would go along way in the development of the health facilities at the states level.

“For us what is critical is not just to see the end to this pandemic, if there can be end.However, what is more important to us is that we do not waste this chances, but to use it to build the health infrastructure all over the 36 states,” Fayemi.

He said that the NGF recognised World Bank as development partner and not a donor, adding that about 10 World Bank initiatives were going on in Ekiti state, which also applicable to other states

Fayemi pledged that the NGF was ready to provide its institutions as a facilitating tools in engaging partners who want to access states.

World Bank Operations Manager, Kathleen Whimp, in her remarks said the signing of MoU was an opportunity for NCDC to reach for better and to strengthen its engagement with the states.

“It is not just about addressing the outbrake, it is also about forging links between federal and state governments, which is very critical for Nigeria’s development.”

She described the response fund as a big responsibility, particularly for NCDC Chairman and his team, while advising governors not to see World Bank team as bankers but as partners.

“See us as as trusted partners that can help you access the kind of support that you need to make this program a succes.” she said.

Presenting an overview on the NCDC “support to COVID-19 response at state level,” the Centre RESDISSE Project Coordinator, Kemi Ladedeinde, said there were two facilities supported by the World Bank to assist the COVID-19 response in the country through NCDC.

These, according to Ladeinde were RESDISSE, a five-year project with the objective of strengthening Nigeria’s desease surveillance, laboratory strengthening, preparedness and public health emergency response capacity.

“The second one is NIGERIA CoPREP, this a $100m fast track facility under processing at the moment, which will be provided to all 36 states and the FCT.
“The project objective is to assist us prevent, detect, and response to the threat posed by COVID-19 at the states level.

She said that the communication of the assistant fund was sent states in May 2, while the template for expected plan was sent to states on May 15, adding that the grant agreement was also approved by the world bank on June 11.
” So far, 34 states have submitted their prioritise plan for this N100 million except for Lagos, Yobe and FCT.

“As of today five states have cleared by the World Bank. Grant agreement has been deployed to Gombe and Zamfara States. In fact, zamfara state has sent back the signed grant aggrement.
“The grant aggrement is ready for Ekiti, Sokoto and Niger states.

Five states are with the banks and we have recommended their plan to World Bank for no objection. These states are Plateau, Benue, Katsina, Rivers, Kaduna.

“What we are trying to do is to ensure that states can submit plans that will be fended by the bank. So we have been providing support.

“There are 24 states now at different levels of review with NCDC or States (nine with NCDC, 10 have been reviewed and returned to States concerned, four submitted their plans on wrong template, and one submitted yesterday.)

According to Ladeinde, the requirements for assessing the funds by states includes, submission of quality Incident Action Plans(lAp), opening of account dedicated account and communicating the account details to NCDC through the Accountant General office.

Others include signing of grantagreement and the compliance with COVID-19 response strategy mc!udmg test 9 contact tracing, active case search etc.

Ladeinde, however, said there were template for the review of the states submission which include finding out if the state use tthe emplate provided by NCDC, if the IAP were properly costed, among others.