“We may be limping because of fallen oil prices, but we will fulfill our commitments to the bank. We may have fallen behind, but we will live up very soon. We will maintain the objectives of setting up the bank, which is to help our less financially endowed neighbours.”
Buhari, who received the President of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), Mr. Bashir Mamma, at State House, Abuja, today, Monday, gave assurance that Nigeria will fulfill all its obligations to the bank.
This was even as the EBID President informed President Buhari that the bank is the financing arm of ECOWAS, which has been there for about 30 years.
He said that it was initially set up as a Fund “to help less developed West African states, but we now cover all parts of the sub-region.”
He said that EBID set up Ecobank, and has also established an airline, after the national airlines of most member countries collapsed.
President Buhari, also today, received in audience, President of the African Development Bank (ADB), Dr Akinwunmi Adesina where he made it clear that Nigeria has the people and the resources to surmount its economic problems.
The President said: “God has given us people and resources. It will take hard work on our part, but we will make it. We will get out of our problems. We are determined to produce what we eat, and stop importation. We will also chase those who stole, and get them to refund.”
Buhari said that the country appreciates helping hands being lent by the ADB, assuring Nigerian-born Adesina, who was the immediate past Minister of Agriculture, that “we will not let you down. Your country won’t disappoint you.”
Dr. Adesina appreciated President Buhari for the support the country gave when he ran for ADB presidency, thus making him the first Nigerian to occupy such position since the bank was established in 1964.
He also lauded the Nigerian President for successes recorded in securing the country, particularly in the North East, noting that “there can be no development without adequate security.”
The ADB boss described recent economic decisions taken in the country as “bold, tough, uncomfortable, but right,” adding that Nigeria would reap the dividends in the short and long run.
“You can count on the ADB as a true friend of Nigeria. You should support massive investment in infrastructure, and we are here to also support. Closing the infrastructure deficit will enable growth, and create employment. Nigeria is too big to fail,” Adesina said.
The ADB President unfolded the packages his institution has for Nigeria, which include; $1 billion of budget support, $300 million to create jobs for 185,000 youths, $250 million towards North East infrastructure development, $1 million grant to deal with challenges of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), $300 million for infrastructure development around Abuja, $200 million for Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to deepen facilities, among others.
Dr. Adesina expressed delight with what he called “President Buhari’s push on anti-corruption, and stance on governance,” adding that building institutions was critical. To that end, he said ADB would give a total of $4.8 million as grant for institutional support, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) getting $2 million, and $1million to Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). “You can always count on my support, and that of the ADB.” [myad]
