The Federal Government is set to release N36 billion to states as part of measures to curb the rising third wave of COVID-19 cases.
Joseph Ngbea, the Benue State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen on Wednesday.
He said the Federal Government promised to release the fund before the end of July 2021.
Ngbea also stated that state commissioners of health would meet with the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 and the Federal Ministry of Health officials next week.
Recall that the World Bank Board of Directors had on August 7, 2020 approved a $114.28 financing to help Nigeria prevent, detect and respond to the threat posed by COVID-19 with a specific focus on state level responses.
On Wednesday, Ngbea told the press that the Federal Government would release the last tranche of COVID 19 funds which would be channeled to specific areas of anti-coronavirus war.
He said, “The Federal Government is already assisting us. It is going to release another N1bn to each of the states as further support.
“The N1bn to each of the states is expected to be released by the end of July. That was what they told us. Already we are meeting in Abuja next week.
“The Federal Ministry of Health will send delegates and sit down with all the stakeholders in the health sector and fashion out what the money should be used for. This is what gives us annual operation plan and it must be followed diligently. You cannot deviate from it. If it is for operational vehicles or building of a laboratory, it must be channeled to such.”
This is as the world Health Organization disclosed on Wednesday that the Delta Variant of COVID-19 is now in 132 countries.
