EU gives Nigeria €50m to fight coronavirus

The European Union has given Nigeria €50 million to fight the coronavirus disease which has killed at least 10 people in the West African country.

The donation was announced when the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), received in audience the EU Delegation at the Council Chambers, State House, Abuja on Tuesday.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, made this known via a tweet.

Adesina said Head of the EU delegation at the event, Amb Ketil Karlsen, who announced the donation, also commended Buhari for extending Lagos, Ogun, and Abuja lockdown.

Karlsen was quoted as describing Buhari’s address to the nation on Monday as “powerful”, adding that the retired general took bold and necessary measures.

“EU gives Nigeria a grant of 50 million Euro to fight COVID-19,” Adesina tweeted.

Also, the Personal Assistant on New Media to the President, Bashir Ahmad, said, “The European Union has donated a grant of €50 million to the Federal Government, their contribution to Nigeria’s fight against #COVID19, the Head of EU delegation, Amb. Ketil Karlsen announces the donation at a meeting with President @MBuhari today in Abuja.”

Buhari on Monday announced the extension of the lockdown order in Lagos, Abuja and Ogun State in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus.

This was after an initial lockdown order declared by the retired general on March 31 elapsed.

In a nationwide broadcast on Monday, the president extended the restriction by 14 days, saying the decision was a difficult one for his regime.

Buhari said the initial lockdown helped Nigeria in its fight against the coronavirus.