COVID-19: How we spent N30.5bn in 4 months – Nigerian govt

The federal government has disclosed that it spent N30.5billion on COVID-19 between 1st April, 2020 and 31st July, 2020.

The Buhari administration stated that this represents 84 percent of the N36.3billon public funds and donations received, leaving the balance of N5.8billion.

Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, provided the figures.

The breakdown was contained in response to the Freedom of Information request sent to him on August 10 by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Connected Development (CODE).
The AGF’s letter was signed by Odanwu Chizoba, an official in his office.

In their reply, SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare and CODE Chief Executive, Hamzat Lawal, said: “We note among others that the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 spent N22billion; and 36 states spent N7billion to support their COVID-19 initiatives.

“We also note that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) spent N877million for deployment of assets in support of COVID-19 operations; while the Nigeria Police spent N500million on personal protective equipment.

N17,865.09 was paid as bank charges.

“It is refreshing to note that 115 ordinary Nigerians donated between N1 and N100 to support the authorities’ efforts to fight COVID-19, despite the fact that it is the country’s poorest and most disadvantaged sectors of the population that continue to bear the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The bodies demanded more specific details and additional information on the spending of N34.4billion between April and July, and details on plans to spend the balance of N5.9billion in the COVID-19 Eradication Support Accounts.

“Of the N36.3billion public funds and donations received, N1.4billion came from Nigerians and companies through accounts at the First Bank; Access Bank; GTBank, Zenith, and UBA, while N536million donations were made through the Central Bank of Nigeria [CBN]. The N536 donations comprise of N89 million and N279million from the Senate and House of Representatives.”

SERAP and CODE gave an ultimatum of 7 days for provision of the additional details.

They said failure to comply will lead to legal actions under the Freedom of Information Act and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.