"Foreign aid arrangements with a religion-dependent focus risks fanning the flames of division, a senior Nigerian government minister has said. Mohammed Idris, Nigeria's minister for information and chief government spokesperson, spoke to The Independent to mark Nigeria's first state visit to the UK in 37 years, expressing concerns about bilateral aid agreements that include religious stipulations and restrictions on fund allocation."
"In December, Nigeria was one of 14 countries that signed bilateral aid agreements with the US known as health compacts which included new stipulations about data sharing and restrictions on how the money should be spent. The $2.1 billion agreement with Nigeria included significant dedicated funding to support Christian health care facilities, the US State Department said, and was negotiated in connection with reforms the Nigerian government has made to prioritise protecting Christian populations."
Nigeria's minister for information and chief government spokesperson Mohammed Idris expressed concern about foreign aid arrangements that prioritize religious considerations. During Nigeria's first state visit to the UK in 37 years, Idris addressed the implications of bilateral health compacts signed between Nigeria and the US in December. The $2.1 billion agreement included dedicated funding specifically for Christian health care facilities, negotiated alongside Nigerian government reforms aimed at protecting Christian populations. Nigeria's religious composition is nearly evenly split between Muslims and Christians. The minister's warning highlights concerns that aid arrangements with religious dependencies could exacerbate existing divisions within the country.
Read at www.independent.co.uk
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