Read What Nigerian Senate Is Set To Do About Alleged Abuse Of $400M

The Nigerian Senate has vowed to commence an investigation into the alleged abuse of over $400 million donated by foreign agencies for the fight against polio in the country, Leadership reports.

This was disclosed by the chairman of the Senate committee on primary healthcare and communicable diseases, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, at a press briefing to mark the World Polio Day in Abuja.

“In this wise, my committee will ensure its statutory oversight functions of key government agencies and parastatals are conducted as at when due with a view to ensuring probity and accountability on how health-related, primary health care (PHC) services are funded and implemented.
“Additionally, we want to reassure all donors and partners of our resolve to ensure donor funds are also well spent and that they reach the masses that need them.
“Key funding agencies like Global Fund, GAVI and several others will be engaged by my committee to ensure mistakes of the past are avoided and that funds from these donors are used judiciously,” he said.

Recall that a Geneva-based Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) had accused Nigeria for alleged misuse of funds allocated to vaccinate millions of children against polio virus.
After an audit conducted by GAVI, the ministry of health and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) were implicated in the alleged fraud. It was revealed that over $400 million given to obtain the vaccines was abused.
Nigeria’s minister of health, Professor Isaac Adewole says there is high risk of further spread of the recent polio outbreak to states surrounding Borno and neighbouring countries around the Lake Chad region.
The risk of further spread was due to population movement within and around the state. However, there were two reported cases of the wild polio virus in Gwoza and Jere local government areas of Borno state last week.