The United States Government through the USAID on Tuesday in Abuja signed a $340 million Development Assistance Agreement with Nigeria.
The US government said the fund was for intervention in Nigeria's development programmes.
Mr Terence McCulley, the US Ambassador to Nigeria, signed the agreement on behalf of his country while Dr Shamusudeen Usman, the Minister of the National Planning Commission signed for Nigeria.

Usman said that the fund was part of the N2.3 trillion development assistance agreement signed by the two countries on Sept. 15, 2010.

He said the N2.3 trillion would be expended on development programmes in the country between 2010 and 2013.

The minister said the $340 million which was part of the agreement would be expended in 2012 to support the country’s infrastructure development, agriculture policies and health care programme.

He said the fund was also to support access to basic education, improve good governance and reduce poverty in the country.

Usman called on development partners in the country to ensure that their Official Development Assistance (ODA) is in line with development priorities of the Federal Government.
He said that the development partners and host country needed to have mutual understanding and respect for ODA legal regulations and the country’s development priorities.
The minister said the commission was reviewing ODAs’ to avoid duplication of projects.
McCulley said due to Nigeria’s contribution to global peace keeping and economy, the US government intervened to assist Nigeria to tackle its inadequate infrastructure and improve other social amenities.


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