By Victoria Ojeme

ABUJA—THE United States Agency for International Development, USAID, has announced $227.3 million in additional developmental assistance to Nigeria.

The money is part of support for the five-year $2.3 billion agreement signed with the federal government in 2015, which brings the total fund provided under the agreement to $702 million.

U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington, who disclosed this in a statement in Abuja yesterday, said: “With the  government’s leadership, we know this funding will significantly improve the well being of Nigerians.

“The new funding will continue to help Nigeria reduce extreme poverty by stimulating inclusive economic growth, promoting a healthier, more-educated population, and strengthening good governance.

”We are pleased to announce new funding under the agreement signed with the Nigerian government in 2015 to provide better access to education, health services and promote democracy and economic growth.”

USAID collaborated with the Nigerian Ministries of Budget and National Planning; Health, Agriculture, Power, and Education; and state-level government counterparts to structure the agreement, which will run through 2020.

In addition to development assistance funding, the United States is providing humanitarian assistance to people affected by the ongoing conflict and severe food insecurity in north eastern Nigeria and throughout the Lake Chad Basin.

The United States has provided more than $291 million in humanitarian assistance since the fiscal year 2016 and continues to be the single largest bilateral humanitarian donor to the region.