The Nigerian government has appealed to the World Bank for a deadline extension of the $500 million loan earmarked for COVID-19 response efforts.
The request for the extension was detailed in a government letter referenced F11373/S.34/C/4028/VOL.1/126 dated October 27, 2023, asking for an extension from a revised deadline of February 29, 2024, to June 30, 2024.
The letter proposed a four-month extension to accommodate the comprehensive wrap-up of project activities related to COVID-19.
The Explainer gathered that the request was also part of the government’s commitment to fully utilise the funds towards pandemic preparedness and response.
Meanwhile, a document from the World Bank has shown that Nigeria has made significant progress in its COVID-19 response, particularly in surpassing the ambitious target of 70% vaccination coverage among the eligible population.
