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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The House of Representatives has commenced a probe of the utilisation of a total $4.6 billion grant from Global Fund and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in the country between 2021–2025.
The Chairman House Committee on Infectious Diseases, Amobi Ogah, while speaking at the inauguration of the probe panel, said the parliament is committed to ensuring that grants received to combat infectious diseases are properly utilised.
Ogah noted that the panel would work with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to ensure that all grants received by the country are duly accounted for.
He stated that while the country bears a great burden of HIV, tuberculosis, malaria and other infectious diseases, there seems to be no reprieve for citizens, despite budgetary allocations and donor funds.
According to him, “Nigeria continues to be battered by the ill effects of a greater burden of HIV, tuberculosis, malaria and other numerous infectious diseases, and it appears while budgetary allocations and donor funds are mobilised for the response against these health challenges, there is no reprieve in sight for the nation, as Nigerians are ravaged daily by HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.
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“It is within this context, that it becomes necessary to ascertain what has been done with the huge grants received by Nigeria from Global Fund and USAID for the response against these diseases from 2021 to date. We are aware that the grants received from international partners and donor agencies before now form 90% of the country’s intervention and investments in the response against these diseases. . .
“This investigative hearing is expected to ascertain what has been received by Nigeria and what has been done with the grants since 2021 with a view to assuring Nigerians, who we represent as parliamentarians that anyone, whether state or non-state actors must indeed account for every Nigerian kobo, and I mean every kobo spent for the response against public health threats.”
Ogah added that “The House Committee on Infectious Diseases is going to partner with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission to ensure that principal recipients and implementing partners of all grants received for Nigeria are made to account to Nigerians.
“This is even more critical when you consider that some funding for terrorist activities has been traced to grants and donor funds.”
