Senate queries FG on plan to borrow $200m to buy mosquitoes nets

The Senate on Tuesday queried the plan by the Federal Government to secure $200 million facility to procure mosquitoes nets against malaria fever for 13 out of the 36 states of the federation.

Members of its Commitee on Health were piqued when the Permanent Secretary of federal Ministry of Health, Mahmuda Mamman, informed them that the Federal Government was planning to borrow $200 million to purchase mosquitoes nets against malaria and other ancillary medical therapies.

Mamman had in his presentation during the 2022 budget defence session submitted that due to high rate of under 5 mortality in Nigeria largely caused by Malaria and inaccessibility to malaria treatments by residents of 13 vulnerable states in the country, the $200m loan has become very necessary .

According to him, the loan if approved by the National Assembly and accessed, will be used to medically fight malaria in the 13 orphan states which cover 208 local government Councils and 3, 536 primary health care centres.

Reacting to the Permanent Secretary’s submission, Chairman of the committee, Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe and members, took on the Permanent Secretary and the Executive Secretary of National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr.Faisal Shuaib.

The Chairman of the committee wondered why N450million was budgeted for Malaria treatment in the proposed 2022 budget and yet , plans being made to borrow $200m for the same purpose

“Don’t we have local manufacturers of mosquitoes nets and malaria drugs in Nigeria to patronise with the loan even if approved?

“This is a clear case of money and jobs for the boys by creditors luring you for loans and railroading you on what it should be spent on.

“Washington or whatever creditor offering the loan , should stop giving us money with one hand and taking it back with another hand through railroaded spending”.

Other members of the committee including Senators Adelere Oriolowo and Abba Moro also faulted the Ministry for coming up with such frivolous proposal.

According to the duo, the N450million already budgeted for fighting malaria in the reported vulnerable areas was enough.

They therefore asked the Permanent Secretary to explain how the idea was arrived at and how it will be implemented.

Responding, the Permanent Secretary said subsidiary arrangement have been made with all the states involved through signing of required agreement.