Senate condemns proposed $200m loan to buy mosquito nets in 2022

The Senate on Tuesday strongly condemned the proposal by the Federal Ministry of Health to borrow $200 million under the malaria programme to buy mosquito nets in the 2022 budget.

A member of Senate Committee on Health, Senator Gershom Bassey made the condemnation during the 2022 budget defence of the Federal Ministry of Health.

Bassey pointedly told the Permanent Secretary, Mahmuda Mamman that the proposal with respect to purchase of mosquito nets was a big issue, expressing concerns that borrowing $200 million was outrageous.

Committee’s condemnation was in response to the Permanent Secretary’s earlier submission of the intention to borrow the amount for purchase of mosquito nets.

The panel further demanded for the total needs of the agency to ascertain if there was need for borrowing.

In his further clarification, the Executive Director, National Primary Heal Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib noted that the $200 million was for importation and local production of mosquito nets.

Committee Chairman on Health, Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe, in his reaction explained that said the idea of borrowing money from World Bank is “money and job for the boys” by somebody in Washington DC, adding that its consultancy services provided at the lower level of State and Local Government.