There are more questions than answers regarding the Federal Government’s Malaria Programme. It was appropriate that the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Loans on October 26 questioned the Federal Ministry of Health’s plan to borrow $200m to buy mosquito nets under the 2022 budget.
The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mahmuda Mamman had tried to explain why the loan was necessary, saying, “The loan if approved by the National Assembly and accessed, will be used to medically fight malaria in the 13 orphan states which cover 208 local government councils and 3, 536 primary health care centres.”
The explanation was confusing. A member of the committee and Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe, observed that N450m was budgeted for malaria treatment in the proposed 2022 budget, and wondered why the ministry was asking for approval to borrow $200m for the same purpose. “This is unacceptable,” he was quoted as saying, adding “This is a clear case of money and jobs for the boys.” The suggestion of corruption was clear enough.
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Interestingly, the Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib, had offered further clarification. He said that the $200m was for importation and local production of mosquito nets. It was a confusing clarification indeed.
The matter was unresolved as the committee demanded further information in order to determine if there was any need for borrowing. It remains to be seen how the ministry will convince the committee to approve its proposal.
It is noteworthy that the issue of questionable procurement and distribution of mosquito nets is not new. In May 2019, First Lady Aisha Buhari questioned the implementation of the Federal Government’s Malaria Programme during an interactive programme she organised for women at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
She said: “I have heard about mosquito nets, Nigeria paid its counterpart fund, $16m. I asked them to give me my own share of the nets to send them to my village people. I didn’t get them.
“They have spent $16m in buying mosquito nets, I did not get it; maybe some people have got it. But I feel that, that’s my personal opinion, $16m is enough to fumigate mosquitoes in Nigeria. That’s my opinion.” The report said there was “applause from women in the hall.” Again, the suggestion of corruption was clear enough.
It is striking that two years after the First Lady cast doubt on the malaria programme, the Senate committee has also raised questions on the subject. This malaria business may well be monkey business.