Osinbajo Happy Over International Community’s Support For NESP, COVID-19 Response

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says  move by the international community to support the successful execution of programmes contained in the National Economic Sustainability Plan (NESP) is welcomed and appreciated.

Osinbajo’s spokesman Laolu Akande in a statement on Thursday in Abuja said the vice president spoke at a virtual meeting with representatives of the international community.

Present at the virtual meeting were representatives of the U.S., EU, UK, agencies of the UN, World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Mr Niyi Adebayo, the Industry, Trade and Investment Minister, a member of the Economic Sustainability Committee (ESC), was also in attendance.

Osinbajo applauded the commitment of the international community to support Nigeria’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said that the country would take advantage of the crisis to effect significant changes in the critical sectors of the Nigerian economy.

“I thank you for your generous comments about the NESP; we intend to implement that as closely as possible.

“We hope that when we get to some of the more technical aspects and full implementation, we will then be able to work with you and see in what areas you will be in the position to assist.

“We also look at the pandemic and post-pandemic period as a time when we can make some useful changes.

“We really are working towards ensuring that we take full advantage of the crisis.

“There is no question at all as to our determination to ensure that we are able to quickly surmount the challenges,” he said.

The vice president also restated the government’s condolences on the recent killing of five aid workers on Wednesday in Borno State by Boko Haram insurgents.