The UK Minister for International Development, Nick Hurd, said on Friday that UK had spent 222 million pound sterling in Nigeria to improve health, education, governance and address malnutrition.
This is contained in a statement by Mr Joseph Abuku, Press and Public Affairs Officer of the British High Commission in Abuja.
“The UK spends overall of £222 million (about N88 billion) per year in Nigeria to improve health and education systems, address malnutrition and improve governance.
“It also removes the constraints to growth and helps Nigeria better target its own resources.
“Over 60 per cent of the Department for International Development Nigeria’s programme is targeted at northern Nigeria where the needs are greatest.
“UK had increased its humanitarian support to Nigeria and would be providing up to £32 million (about N12 billion) over the next three years.
“The fund would help to deliver basic, life-saving assistance and protection to estimated seven million people in need of humanitarian assistance due to the conflict in north east,” the statement quoted Hurd as saying.
He said that the funds would be channelled through the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross and other humanitarian organisations.
The minister said that the fund would 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.
According to him, technical expertise will also be made available to the Federal Government to support the humanitarian response.
“The UK is committed to continuing to help Nigeria to provide humanitarian assistance and protection for people affected by the conflict in north east.
“We welcome Nigeria’s efforts to support the affected population.
“We look forward to continuing to work with all partners to strengthen the humanitarian effort to reach the most vulnerable, many of whom are in areas that are difficult to access.’’
Hurd explained that this new funding was in addition to more than £8.2 million (about three billion naira) provided by the UK since 2014.
“The fund helped to respond to the life-saving humanitarian needs of the people affected by the conflict though violence, displacement, and loss of livelihoods.
The minister announced a substantial increase of £16.7 million (about N6.5 billion) the UK is giving to Nigeria’s rapidly growing solar energy market.
He noted that 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 (about N15 billion).
Hurd noted that the programme had already supported access to household energy for more than 130,000 people since it was launched in 2014.
The minister also stated that UK had supported improved healthcare and education for about 185,000 people in Lagos.
