The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has suspended payments to Nigeria’s AIDS agency over evidence that $3.8 million was stolen by its workers and consultants, the Geneva-based agency said on Friday.
Fund spokesman Seth Faison said Nigeria’s government has promised to repay the money and to prosecute suspects.
A report by the fund’s inspector general said seven government workers and three information technology consultants stole the money over five years between 2010 and 2014.
It said the fraud continued because the National Agency for the Control of AIDS did not carry out proper audits.
The missing money is 95 percent of the amount budgeted to implement, administer and train users of a web-based reporting platform, according to the report, but a fraction of the $1.4 billion the fund has spent fighting AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in Nigeria — its biggest recipient.
Nigeria, has the world’s second highest number of people infected with AIDS after South Africa, it reports one-third of all deaths from malaria in Africa and is among the top 22 countries with the most TB patients.
Last year, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization accused Ministry of Health officials of malpractice and fraud involving 40 percent of the $29 million it spent in Nigeria between 2011 and 2013.
Nigeria later repaid GAVI $2.2 million.
