Japan donates ¥1.75bln for Nigeria’s disease control efforts

The Japanese government has donated a grant of ¥1.75 billion to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to strengthen its diagnostic capacity.

Mr. Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, announced the donation on Wednesday.

Vice President Kashim Shettima expressed his gratitude to the Japanese government and assured them of enhanced cooperation between the two nations.

He acknowledged Japan’s contributions to Nigeria’s development, particularly in polio eradication, which helped Nigeria achieve polio-free status in 2020.

Shettima also recognized Japan’s commitment to strengthening ties between the two nations, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He said: “All the grey areas will be addressed. Luckily, the CBN Governor is here, and two of the major beneficiary ministries are represented at the highest level. Rest assured that in a couple of days, we will resolve all the grey areas and put our relationship on a new pedestal.

“Your Excellency, we are immensely grateful for JICA’s continuous commitment; words cannot adequately convey our depth of gratitude. Under the exemplary leadership of Dr. Tanaka Akihiko, JICA has played a vital role in strengthening the ties between our two nations.

“Your contributions span critical sectors of our economy and society, aligning seamlessly with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I am glad you visited the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) yesterday, where you again provided a grant of ¥1.75 billion for strengthening the diagnostic capacity of the NCDC.”

The President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Dr. Tanaka Akihiko, expressed sympathy for Nigeria’s recent flood victims and announced plans to hold an International Conference on African Development in Tokyo next year.

This donation and cooperation agreement marks a significant milestone in Japan-Nigeria relations, building on existing partnerships in trade, infrastructure development, food security, and health.

The two nations aim to deepen their bilateral ties and explore new opportunities for mutual growth and development.