The House of Representatives Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has queried the Ministry of Health on the disengagement of a local contractor in a $100 million loan agreement between Nigeria and the Islamic Development Bank meant to address the challenge of malaria in the country.

Chairman of the Committee on HIV/AIDS, Hon Amobi Ogah at a stakeholders meeting organized in Abuja to address the matter was displeased that succor that was expected through the intervention was yet to materialize even after signing the agreement in 2022.

In his ruling at the meeting, Amobi directed that Minister of Health, Prof Ali Muhammad Pate, who was in attendance to provide a comprehensive report of the transactions pertaining to the agreement to the committee within two weeks.

The report is expected to explain in detail, why the local vendors approved for the agreement were disqualified and not given access to the job.

Earlier, the Health Minister, Ali Pate said the agreement was reversed because there were issues with the local producer.
He said according to the design of the loan, there was an agreement by the government to utilise a United Nations procurement agent, UNOPS, and a Memorandum of Understanding was signed.

Director and Representative of the United Nations Office for Project Services UNOPS, Ghana Multi Country Office, Ifeoma Charles-Monwuba, said there was an anomaly with the local contractor who lacked capacity to carry out the assignment-hence the need to terminate the agreement.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon Tajudeen Abbas who was represented at the event by the House Leader, Prof Julius Ihonvbare, hoped that the matter would be resolved amicably.