Nigeria lets donors decide its development, say experts

Development experts say Nigeria is letting international donors take advantage of its weakness to prioritise its own national development agenda. Speaking in Abuja in panel sessions organised by Pact, a nonprofit international development organization, the experts said Nigeria needed to earn the respect of international donors by ensuring transparency and accountability in spending donor funds […]

Development experts say Nigeria is letting international donors take advantage of its weakness to prioritise its own national development agenda.

Speaking in Abuja in panel sessions organised by Pact, a nonprofit international development organization, the experts said Nigeria needed to earn the respect of international donors by ensuring transparency and accountability in spending donor funds and setting its own development agenda that development partners could work with.

Country director for Pact in Nigeria, Trevor Maisiri, said the sessions were to “create a space where we can collectively convene to address the challenges we face in the development sector in Nigeria.”

“Hopefully, that is going to become the voice of the development players in shaping both policy and the terrain for us to do development work in Nigeria.”

Among challenges, Nigeria’s bill for routine immuisation is expected to top $600 million by next year, up to 60% of it currently funded by the Global Alliance for Vaccine Initiative, according to Adamu Nuhu, advocacy director at the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.

That’s the bill for immunizing a cohort of some 7 million children born every year, with the number expected to reach 10m by 2020.

Nigeria has been hit by misappropriation scandals in the spending of donor funds.

The 2017 budget includes refund payments—N1.6 billion to GAVI and N4.8b to the Global Fund.

Auwal Musa, executive director of the Civil Society Legislative and Advocacy Centre, said Nigeria must find a way to begin paying for its own development.

“No amount of donor support will move this country, if Nigerian government cannot begin domestic financing,” Musa said, noting Nigeria must key into “change” in the way it did things.

Mike Egboh, of Abt Associates, said, “Until we get our vision right, we will keep struggling.”

The sessions called for the National Planning Commission, which compiles database of hundreds of development partners working in nigeria, to harness international support into developing the country, regardless of where funding comes from.

"When you leave you development agenda, then someone else will make an agenda for you and it is what they give you you will take,” said Emmanuel Abanida, executive secretary of the Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria.

Speaking about Nigeria’s relationship with international donors, Chidi Nweneka, deputy director for policy and strategy at the National Agency for Control of HIV/AIDS, a recipient of Global Fund money, spoke of insincerity among many donors.

“Until our government decides to take back the reins, I think we will continue in this,” Nweneka said.

“Government appreciates donors coming to help us, but don’t choke me because you want to feed me.”

Executive director of Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH), Oladipo Ladapo, said, "Although Nigeria has not had much impact on development, every effort is to reposition Nigeria so that we can develop."