U.S doles out additional $55m to Nigeria as food relief
United States has fulfilled its pledge to Nigeria in the area of food security as it announced providing an additional investment worth $55 million as relief for Nigerians.
According to a statement by the United States Embassy in Nigeria, Thursday, the financial commitment forms part of President Biden’s recent pledge to the country at the G-7 Summit in Germany which aims as protecting the most vulnerable nations from an escalating global food crisis.
The embassy statement added further that the funds will be administered through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) under its agriculture, nutrition, and humanitarian assistance programs (and subject to Congressional approval).
“The funds will help to immediately address the economic, food and nutrition needs of some communities in Nigeria most adversely impacted by higher food, fuel, and fertilizer prices,” the statement said.
US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, in the statement reaffirmed the commitment of the United States and the American people ‘to improve the economic well-being and food security of all Nigerians.’
“The United States is committed to mitigating the adverse effect of the current global food crisis on the people of Nigeria. We strongly support Nigeria’s economic prosperity and well-being, and our decades-long partnership with the Nigerian government, the private sector, and NGO community to address the country’s most urgent development and humanitarian needs.
“We empathise with the hardships and suffering of Nigerian citizens that have been exacerbated as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its negative impact on food security, and we fully expect President Biden’s initiative will significantly soften the blow of these war-related international price shocks.
“The United States would use every tool available to address the humanitarian and long-term impacts of Russia’s war and other such shocks on global food security and nutrition,” the statement read.
The U.S disclosed that its total investment internationally in combating the global food security crisis since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is expected to reach over $5.6 billion.
