An anti-malaria campaign group, End Malaria In Nigeria, has described the claim by the Sokoto State government that it spent over N530 million on mosquito nets as misdirected.
Equally important, the Sokoto State government had announced that it would spend over N530 million to buy and distribute mosquito nets to the members of the public across the state.
Specifically, the Director-General of Sokoto State Malaria Elimination Agency (SOSMEA), Muslimu Gobir, told journalists in Sokoto; the state capital that at least 15,000 workers would participate in the statewide campaign exercise. Further, he added that the plan is to reach about five million people with the treated nets.
Sokoto State
“In Sokoto state, about N534 million would be expended as implementation cost; out of which the state government provided N178 million as counterpart fund,” Peoples Gazette quoted Gobir as saying.
However, in its reaction, the End Malaria In Nigeria Group, in a statement signed by its convener; Francis Nwapa, said that the inauguration of the Malaria Elimination Council of businessmen is a wild goose chase; as over half a billion naira has been spent on the purchase and distribution of treated mosquito nets in Sokoto State alone.
Correspondingly, the statement read, “This confirms our position that the so-called inauguration of Malaria Elimination Council of businessmen is a wild goose chase.
ALSO READ: Ondo police arrest two alleged ‘serial’ kidnappers
“Over half a Billion has been spent on Purchase and distribution of treated Mosquito Net in Sokoto State alone.
“This fund could have been better channeled into eliminating breeding spaces of Mosquitoes through the modern drainage systems; scientific waste management, etc. in Sokoto State.
“We now wonder if N531, 000, 000 is spent for purchase of Mosquito Nets in the 36 States of Nigeria; including the Federal Capital territory; we would have cumulatively spent N19,647,000,000 on Mosquito Nets alone.
Profit making
“These huge resources could be spent on larvae source management; equipping our Primary Health Care, research and development.
“As we warned, if the Malaria Council is not comprised of professionals within the Environmental Health industry; with the focus of fighting Mosquito and not profit making, it might become another “Malaria Business venture.”
