COVID-19: IMF approves $3.4bn for Nigeria, as Trump promises ventilators in phone chat with Buhari [UPDATED]

IMF

By TOM CHIAHEMEN, Abuja

Nigeria’s request for $3.4 billion from the International Monetary Fund to fight the devastating effect of the COVID-19 has been approved.

The loan which has a maximum repayment period of five years was approved by the Fund’s board Tuesday.

This came as American President, Donald Trump, called President Muhammadu Buhari earlier in the day and promised to help Nigeria fight the deadly coronavirus. He promised to send ventilators.

Buhar in a handshake with Trump

“President Muhammadu Buhari had a phone conversation with the US President Donald Trump today, the two leaders discussed Nigeria’s efforts to defeat the COVID–19 Pandemic, and President Trump pledged US support and solidarity. #COVID19Nigeria,” Buhari’s Personal Assistant, Bashir Ahmad tweeted Tuesday.

Also, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, said: “President @MBuhari today had a phone conversation with President Donald Trump, at the request of the American President. The conversation centered on Nigeria’s response to the #COVID19 pandemic”

“President Buhari used the opportunity to brief the American President on the steps that Nigeria is taking to contain the spread of the disease.

“For his part, President Trump assured that the United States stands in solidarity with Nigeria in this difficult time and promised to send ventilators to support the country in its fight against the pandemic. President Trump also extends his best regards to the people of Nigeria.”

BUHARI, TRUMP IN PHONE CONVERSATION – Presidency

Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), confirmed that the two world leaders spoke on telephone.

He said in a statement that President  Buhari Tuesday afternoon received a telephone call from American President, Donald Trump, during which the two leaders commiserated with each other on fatalities in their countries, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

They also shared ideas on how to successfully combat the health emergency, he added.

According to the statement, “President Buhari expressed condolences to the government and people of the United States over the fatalities recorded, and equally expressed worry at the high rate of deaths recorded across the world.

“The associated negative impacts of the pandemic on the world’s economy also came up for discussion.

“The Nigerian President lauded his American counterpart for the various initiatives adopted by his government to contain the further spread of the virus across the United States.

“He indicated Nigeria’s readiness to cooperate with the United States to fight this common unseen enemy.

“President Buhari informed that Nigeria had taken a number of proactive measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19 across the country.

“The President welcomed the valuable friendship and expressed appreciation to President Trump for reaching out at this time.”

(with additional report from THEWILL)

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