Nigeria seeks $500m World Bank loan for critical health issues – Newstrends
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Nigeria seeks $500m World Bank loan for critical health issues

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Nigeria seeks $500m World Bank loan for critical health issues

The Nigerian government is engaging the World Bank for a $500 million loan to support its recently approved Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (HSRII).

This financial commitment, as detailed in a World Bank appraisal document seen by Nairametrics, is part of a broader effort to address the critical health challenges facing the nation.

According to the document, the $500 million will be provided under the ‘Nigeria: Primary Healthcare Provision Strengthening Program’.

A part of the document read: “The proposed PforR Program is grounded in the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) launched in December 2023 — an ambitious and transformative initiative aiming to improve both health outcomes and economic potential by drastically reducing Nigeria’s maternal and under-five mortality rates.” 

The estimated approval date for the $500 million loan from the World Bank is September 26, 2024.

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According to the World Bank’s Program Information Document (PID) updated on August 16, 2024, the loan is a key component of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, which aims to enhance the utilization of quality essential health services and strengthen the resilience of the Nigerian health system.

The HSRII, launched in December 2023, is designed to improve health outcomes and unlock Nigeria’s economic potential by drastically reducing preventable deaths through targeted investments in primary healthcare.

The initiative also seeks to fortify community-based service delivery and enhance the capacity of primary healthcare facilities. The program is expected to be a critical step toward achieving universal health coverage in Nigeria, addressing the country’s long-standing issues of inadequate health financing and poor health outcomes.

The World Bank’s involvement is expected to catalyze additional support from other development partners, with the loan forming the bulk of the $570 million total financing package for the program. The remaining $70 million is expected from trust funds.

The Federal Ministry of Health will oversee the implementation of this initiative.

Nigeria seeks $500m World Bank loan for critical health issues

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Updated: NNPC debunks claims Port Harcourt refinery trucking-out old product

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Updated: NNPC debunks claims Port Harcourt refinery trucking-out old product

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has denied claims by a community leader in Alesa, Rivers State, alleging that the Port Harcourt refinery is not yet producing fuel.

In a statement released on Friday, NNPC spokesperson Olufemi Soneye criticized the comment made by the community leader, it was based on ignorance about refinery operations.

Soneye explained that while he would have typically ignored such remarks, he felt compelled to respond in order to clarify the situation.

Timothy Mgbere, a leader in the Alesa community, appeared on national television on Thursday, where he accused the NNPCL of misleading Nigerians by claiming that the Port Harcourt refinery was already processing crude oil.

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But  Soneye said the Port Harcourt refinery was currently operating at 90% capacity.

He emphasized that the allegations lacked merit and were inconsistent with the facts.

The NNPC spokesperson noted that the community leader had acknowledged fuel being loaded out from the refinery’s gantry but dismissed it as “old stock” from the previous refinery, which, Soneye argued, further undermined the credibility of the allegations.

“He (Mgbere) claimed that the old Port Harcourt Refinery was only operating skeletally and was not processing PMS. His proof was that the PMS truck-out was done at the gantry of the new Port Harcourt Refinery as against the gantry of the old Port Harcourt Refinery.

“This betrays his scant knowledge of the operations of the refinery. The old and new Port Harcourt refineries have since been integrated with one single terminal for product load-out.

“They share common utilities like power and storage tanks. This means that storage tanks and loading gantry which he claimed belong to the new Port-Harcourt Refinery can also receive products from the Old Port Harcourt Refinery

“The nameplate capacity of the refinery is 60,000 barrels of oil per day. It is currently producing at 90 per cent throughput which translates to Straight-Run gasoline (Naphtha) blended into 1.4 million liters of PMS, aside from other products like diesel and kerosene.

“We call on the general public to disregard the claims of the self-acclaimed ‘community person’ which are obviously borne out of sheer mischief and blatant display of ignorance,” Soneye said.

 

Port Harcourt refinery now 90% operational, says NNPC, tackles community leader claim

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FG hands over $3bn Port Harcourt-Aba railway project to NRC

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FG hands over $3bn Port Harcourt-Aba railway project to NRC

The 62-kilometre, $3.02 billion Port Harcourt-Aba railway project has been completed by Federal Government and handed over to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).

The Port Harcourt-Aba section is part of the larger Port Harcourt-Maiduguri eastern narrow gauge railway project, initiated under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The project supervisor, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Ayo Dada, formally transferred the railway to the NRC during a brief ceremony held on Thursday in Port Harcourt.

He said that the project, completed in May, had significantly improved passenger movement between Rivers and Abia, thereby enhancing their economies.

“The assets handed over include dismantled tracks measuring 283.060 km, rehabilitated and reconstructed 62.800 km of subgrade and the laying of 62.800 km of rail for the main line,” Dada said.

“This includes the laying of rail for sliding lines covering 5.690 km and the reconstruction of 27 sets of turnouts at Port Harcourt, Elelenwo, Obuzor, Umugo and Aba Stations, among others.”

Dada said that with the handover of the Port Harcourt–Aba section, the Federal Government would focus on the Port Harcourt–Maiduguri phase of the project.

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“The contractor has submitted the technical specifications and maintenance manual for the Port Harcourt–Aba section to the consultants.

“The ministry is committed to completing this project, which will foster national development,” he said.

The Managing Director of the NRC, Ben Iloanusi, commended the Federal Government and the ministry of transportation for the timely completion and transfer of the project.

Iloanusi, represented by the NRC Deputy Manager (Civil), Adesegun Ogunade, said that the railway had greatly benefited Nigerians seeking affordable transportation options.

“The rail line, now in operation, has started mitigating the impact of high transportation costs caused by economic challenges,” he said.

“Train services have been running for some time and passengers have reported that it has made commuting between Port Harcourt and Aba more convenient, faster and cheaper.

“People are already experiencing the benefits of this government’s policies and programmes.’’

He assured that the Port Harcourt–Maiduguri section would also be completed in due course, emphasising that adequate security arrangements had been made to ensure the safety of workers and passengers.

 

FG hands over $3bn Port Harcourt-Aba railway project to NRC

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Naira appreciates to N1,740/$ in parallel market

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Naira appreciates to N1,740/$ in parallel market

The Naira yesterday appreciated to N1,740 per dollar in the parallel market from N1,745 per dollar on Wednesday.

Likewise, the Naira appreciated to N1,644.86 per dollar in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market, NAFEM.

Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative exchange rate for NAFEM fell to N1,644.86 per dollar from N1,660.83 per dollar on Wednesday, indicating N15.97 appreciation for the naira.

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The volume of dollars traded (turnover) increased by 66 percent to $560.34 million from $337.07 million traded on Wednesday. Consequently, the margin between the parallel market and NAFEM rate widened to N95.14 per dollar from N84.17 per dollar on Wednesday.

 

Naira appreciates to N1,740/$ in parallel market

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