Germany supports Nigeria, ECOWAS in fighting the effects of COVID-19

Germany provides an additional €5.5 million (c. 2,2 B Naira) to the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund (NHF) managed by the United Nations (OCHA) to continue life-saving aid in the federal states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe in the context of the COVID-19 crisis. Ongoing activities include drilling of wells, construction of sanitation facilities, rehabilitation of buildings or construction of shelters for internally displaced persons and other victims of insecurity in the North East. This brings Germany ́s contribution to the NHF to a total of more than €29 million since it became operational in May 2017, making Germany a major donor to the NHF over the past three years. 

Furthermore, Germany has pledged a total of c. €12 million (c. 4,8 B Naira) in additional support to the West Africa Health Organization (WAHO), the regional health institution of the ECOWAS. The new allocation is earmarked for the purchase of vital medical supplies and laboratory equipment, training measures and, more generally, cooperation in pandemic prevention at the national and regional levels. In Nigeria, Germany has supported the NCDC with the introduction of a Surveillance Outbreak Response Management and Analysis System (SORMAS) which, as of August 2019, was implemented in c. 200 local government areas. 

“Clearly, the current crisis goes beyond national and even continental borders and can only be fought effectively in a cooperative way. We need more international cooperation, not less”, said German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, referring to the need of multilateral action and joining forces in fighting the crisis. “Equitable distribution of protective material, tests, medication and vaccines – as soon as they become available – is an imperative of our common humanity“. 

Against this backdrop, the German federal government has successfully campaigned in the G20 group of countries and the Paris Club group of creditor countries in favour of a debt moratorium for countries heavily impacted by the economic impact of COVID-19. In 2020 the German treasury relieves Nigeria of debt repayments amounting to € 22.4 million (c. 8.9 B Naira). This comes in addition to Germany’s support to the COVID-19 response on a global level and the support provided by the European Union (EU) to partner countries in Africa worth €3.25 billion (c. 1.3 T Naira). On 27 April, Germany pledged € 300 million (c. 120 B Naira) to the global humanitarian response plan launched by the United Nations to fight COVID-19. 

Moreover, procurement of protective materials and hygiene articles (hand disinfectant, protective clothing, surface disinfectant, KN95 face masks, contactless clinical thermometers and gloves) with a total value of EUR 20,000 (c. 8 M Naira) for the Nigeria Police Force has started through Germany ́s implementing agency GIZ. The material and in-kind contributions will be handed over shortly in Abuja.