By Ola Kay
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun on Thursday informed of the approval of major financial support packages by the World Bank, towards stabilizing the economy and boosting reforms at poverty reduction in the country.
A statement by the Director, Information and Public Relations in the Finance Ministry, Mohammed Manga, on behalf of the Minister revealed that, “the approved operations include $1.5 billion for the Nigeria Reforms for Economic Stabilization to Enable Transformation (RESET) Development Policy Financing Program (DPF) and $750 million for the Nigeria Accelerating Resource Mobilization Reforms (ARMOR) Program-for-Results (PforR).”
Mr. Wale Edun, gave break down of the World Bank support package to Nigeria saying that “This combined total of $2.25 billion will offer essential financial and technical support as the government continues to address economic distortions.
“Additionally, it will assist Nigeria in its long-term goal of increasing non-oil revenues and securing oil revenues to ensure fiscal sustainability and the delivery of quality public services.”
The statement also noted that Mr. Wale Edun appreciated the support of the World Bank and undescored the necessity for the reforms:
“We have undertaken bold and necessary reforms to restore macroeconomic stability and put Nigeria on a path to sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
These reforms will create quality jobs and economic opportunities for all Nigerians. We welcome the support of the RESET and ARMOR programmes as we further consolidate and implement our policy reforms, consistent with accelerating investment and using public resources more sustainably to achieve our development goals”.
On his part, Dusmane Diagana, the World Bank Vice President for Western and Central Africa, commended Nigeria’s economic reforms by stating that, “Nigeria’s comprehensive macro-fiscal reforms are placing the country on a new path that can stabilize the economy and lift people out of poverty. It is essential to maintain the momentum of these reforms and continue to provide support to the poor and vulnerable to mitigate the impact of the cost-of-living crisis.
“This financing package strengthens the World Bank’s strong partnership with Nigeria and supports efforts to rejuvenate the economy and expedite poverty reduction, serving as an example for Africa.”
Manga, according to the statement further emphasized that, “Focus areas of the programmes include RESET DPF, which aims to strengthen Nigeria’s economic policy framework, create fiscal space, and protect the poor and vulnerable, and ARMOR PforR, which supports tax and excise reforms, improves tax revenue and customs administration, and safeguards oil revenues.”
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