By Salisu Sani-Idris
August 19, 2020
World Humanitarian Day: NIHA pledges to raise $2.4b to address consequences of Covid-19
The Nigerian Humanitarian Action (NIHA) says it is set to unveil its Reachout Initiative in Sept. 8, 2020 to build institutional synergy for the raising of $2.4 billion to address the consequences of COVIDov-19 pandemic.
Mr Kletsaint Akor, Convener and Chief Humanitarian, NIHA, made the disclosure at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja.
He explained that the initiative was a strategic, non-governmental instrument designed to assist and consolidate the efforts of the Federal Government to secure the economy and lives of vulnerable Nigerians from the negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic.
Akor said that humanitarian action institutional goal created REACH-OUT programme as its swift response to the COVID-19 which in reality had become as devastating to human life and the socio-economic wellbeing of all Nigerians and nations worldwide.
The convener also said that the initiative was created by NIHA as an emergency response programme to bring together all stakeholders in the humanitarian and social services sectors.
”Including both state and non-state actors,to comprehensively address the socio-economic and humanitarian challenges, occasioned by the global Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19) in a timely, efficient and equitable manner that ensures transparency and accountability, across Nigeria.
” The initiative is to serve as a seamless vehicle to positively intervene in the lives of millions of vulnerable Nigerians exposed to the negative impact of COVID-19 and to help empower them to regenerate the economy.”
He assured that NIHA would mobilise and collaborate with humanitarian organisations, professional organisations, individuals and other service-oriented benefactors to address the impacts of COVID-19 on the people and economy of Nigeria.
” The goal of REACHOUT COVID-19 FUND Instrument is to successfully implement the funding of the REACHOUT programme through a multiple, open-source approach, targeted to raise projected sum of (N950 billion or 2.5 billion dollars for the first one year pilot phase.
” It is projected that the same funding threshold shall be sustained throughout the initiative term of five years.
” The entire expressions of the initiative are estimated to last for five years.
” Reachout, through this time line, shall be implemented along the two-part window period: the fund raising window and programme intervention window
” As individuals, we remain the greatest weapon to fight this pandemic,quoted from President Muhammadu Buhari‘s national address on the state of the Nation March 29, 2020,’ is a national call to action.
” In this regard, we call on all state and non-state actors, men and women of goodwill and all Nigerians to join NIHA and its promoters and partners by all means to address the humongous challenges occasioned by the COVID-19 through REACHOUT.”