President Muhammadu Buhari has again called on developed
countries and international financial institutions to cancel the
debts of “needy countries” especially in Africa to enable them
reverse the devastations of COVID-19 to the human race.
President Buhari made the call on Thursday in a virtual meeting
tagged: “High-Level Event on Financing for Development in the Era
of COVID-19 and Beyond”, convened by Canada, Jamaica and the
Secretary-General of the United Nations.
A statement issued Thursday by Buhari’s spokesman, Femi Adesina,
said more than 50 Heads of State and Government as well as heads of
international organisations participated in the meeting.
The President, who said global solidarity was the hope for
humanity, implored major nations to provide free additional
resources through an international consensus to assist poor
countries fight the coronavirus pandemic.
He cautioned major nations against adopting a “me first” and
“every man for himself” attitude, warning that the consequences for
all in the 21st century can only be imagined.
Buhari said: “The world has changed through COVID-19 and so must
the global financing architecture for development financing and the
response to the current pandemic.
“There is an urgent need for weak and needy countries,
especially those of Africa, to receive a fresh reprieve.
“This is a historic plague affecting every corner of the
globe.
“In the circumstances, the response needed must be global,
unconditional, comprehensive, and rapid.
“Debts must be forgiven and cancelled.
“Free additional resources are needed urgently through an
international consensus to enable poor countries work to reverse
the devastations of COVID-19 to the human race.
“Rising now and standing together in true global solidarity to
my mind is the only hope for humanity, the best approach to
safeguarding the 2030 SDGs and the only way we can build back for
more resilient economies and societies.”
Buhari informed the international community on the devastating
impact of the pandemic on the Nigerian economy, the health sector
and efforts by his government to mitigate the crisis.
He said Nigeria had revised its 2020 budget downwards and
shifted emphasis to response activities towards bridging the
critical gaps in the health infrastructures to strengthen national
response to COVID-19 and other diseases.
“For Nigeria, the shocks are multiple, including the sharp
decline in international oil prices which has negatively impacted
revenues and growth, worsened external and domestic positions, and
further increased banking sector vulnerabilities, resulting in
enormous human and economic toll on the country.
“We have been proactive in implementing a number of strong
measures, including fiscal, monetary and structural policies, and a
multi-front response to the health crisis created by COVID-19 which
captures all tiers of government as well as the private sector.
“Our objective is to revert to the government’s planned
medium-term fiscal consolidation path once the crisis is over.
“Our strategy for macroeconomic stability is anchored on our
home-grown Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP),”he said.
Buhari, while speaking on demographics and health, told the
meeting that with an estimated population of 200 million and a
large segment of economically vulnerable population, Nigeria had a
high burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases.
“This level of disease burden, coupled with poverty level and
Nigeria’s weak system; the COVID-19 pandemic is certainly
jeopardizing and reversing the gains already made by the Government
and its partners including in such other areas as outbreaks of
Lassa and yellow fevers and measles,” he said.
President Muhammadu Buhari has again called on developed
countries and international financial institutions to cancel the
debts of “needy countries” especially in Africa to enable them
reverse the devastations of COVID-19 to the human race.
President Buhari made the call on Thursday in a virtual meeting
tagged: “High-Level Event on Financing for Development in the Era
of COVID-19 and Beyond”, convened by Canada, Jamaica and the
Secretary-General of the United Nations.
A statement issued Thursday by Buhari’s spokesman, Femi Adesina,
said more than 50 Heads of State and Government as well as heads of
international organisations participated in the meeting.
The President, who said global solidarity was the hope for
humanity, implored major nations to provide free additional
resources through an international consensus to assist poor
countries fight the coronavirus pandemic.
He cautioned major nations against adopting a “me first” and
“every man for himself” attitude, warning that the consequences for
all in the 21st century can only be imagined.
Buhari said: “The world has changed through COVID-19 and so must
the global financing architecture for development financing and the
response to the current pandemic.
“There is an urgent need for weak and needy countries,
especially those of Africa, to receive a fresh reprieve.
“This is a historic plague affecting every corner of the
globe.
“In the circumstances, the response needed must be global,
unconditional, comprehensive, and rapid.
“Debts must be forgiven and cancelled.
“Free additional resources are needed urgently through an
international consensus to enable poor countries work to reverse
the devastations of COVID-19 to the human race.
“Rising now and standing together in true global solidarity to
my mind is the only hope for humanity, the best approach to
safeguarding the 2030 SDGs and the only way we can build back for
more resilient economies and societies.”
Buhari informed the international community on the devastating
impact of the pandemic on the Nigerian economy, the health sector
and efforts by his government to mitigate the crisis.
He said Nigeria had revised its 2020 budget downwards and
shifted emphasis to response activities towards bridging the
critical gaps in the health infrastructures to strengthen national
response to COVID-19 and other diseases.
“For Nigeria, the shocks are multiple, including the sharp
decline in international oil prices which has negatively impacted
revenues and growth, worsened external and domestic positions, and
further increased banking sector vulnerabilities, resulting in
enormous human and economic toll on the country.
“We have been proactive in implementing a number of strong
measures, including fiscal, monetary and structural policies, and a
multi-front response to the health crisis created by COVID-19 which
captures all tiers of government as well as the private sector.
“Our objective is to revert to the government’s planned
medium-term fiscal consolidation path once the crisis is over.
“Our strategy for macroeconomic stability is anchored on our
home-grown Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP),”he said.
Buhari, while speaking on demographics and health, told the
meeting that with an estimated population of 200 million and a
large segment of economically vulnerable population, Nigeria had a
high burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases.
“This level of disease burden, coupled with poverty level and
Nigeria’s weak system; the COVID-19 pandemic is certainly
jeopardizing and reversing the gains already made by the Government
and its partners including in such other areas as outbreaks of
Lassa and yellow fevers and measles,” he said.