United Kingdom (UK) has concluded arrangement to provide additional funding up to £32 million for humanitarian and energy support to the country.
This new funding, according to Nick Hurd, the UK Minister for International Development, is in addition to more than £8.2 million provided by the UK since 2014.
Hued noted that the humanitarian needs in north east Nigeria are enormous and growing.
UK he stressed was committed to continuing to help Nigeria to provide humanitarian assistance and protection for people affected by the conflict in north east Nigeria.
The support which is for the next three years is aimed at delivering basic, life-saving assistance and protection to some of the estimated 7 million people in need of humanitarian assistance due to the conflict in north east Nigeria.
While also commending Nigeria’s efforts to support the affected population, Hurd maintained that a sustained, large-scale Government-led response is needed to meet people’s basic needs and to help them to rebuild their lives once security conditions allow them to return to their places of origin.
He further assured the country of UK’s continuing support alongside its partners to strengthen the humanitarian effort to reach the most vulnerable, many of whom are in areas that are difficult to access.
A statement issued by the British High Commission in Abuja said that the funds will be channeled through the United Nations (UN), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other humanitarian organisations, and will be used to provide support for critical life-saving areas including nutrition, food security, water and sanitation, and protection of civilians affected by the conflict.
Also, Technical expertise is expected to be made available to the Government of Nigeria to support the humanitarian response.
In addition, the Minister, according to the statement also announced a substantial increase of £16.7 million pounds the UK is giving to Nigeria’s rapidly growing solar energy market. The additional funding is in support of a UK sponsored Solar Nigeria Programme that was approved in September 2013 with a budget of £37.1 million pounds.
The UK’s overall £222 million / year programme in Nigeria improves health and education systems, addresses malnutrition, improves governance, removes the constraints to growth and helps Nigeria better target its own resources. Over 60% of DFID Nigeria’s programme is targeted at northern Nigeria where the needs are greatest
