Coronavirus: IMF approves US$3.4bn as emergency financial assistance for Nigeria

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved US$3.4 billion emergency financial assistance for Nigeria to fight against the dreaded coronavirus.

The Executive Board approved Nigeria’s request under the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI).

Mitsuhiro Furusawa, Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair, in a statement said:  “The COVID-19 outbreak – magnified by the sharp fall in international oil prices and reduced global demand for oil products – is severely impacting economic activity in Nigeria.

“These shocks have created large external and financing needs for 2020. Additional declines in oil prices and more protracted containment measures would seriously affect the real and financial sectors and strain the country’s financing.

“The authorities’ immediate actions to respond to the crisis are welcome. The short-term focus on fiscal accommodation would allow for higher health spending and help alleviate the impact of the crisis on households and businesses. Steps taken toward a more unified and flexible exchange rate are also important and unification of the exchange rate should be expedited.

“Once the COVID-19 crisis passes, the focus should remain on medium-term macroeconomic stability, with revenue-based fiscal consolidation essential to keep Nigeria’s debt sustainable and create fiscal space for priority spending. Implementation of the reform priorities under the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, particularly on power and governance, remains crucial to boost growth over the medium term.”