The Vice President Arc Mohammed Namadi Sambo has called on the Islamic Development Bank to support projects that cut across the African continent, while still supporting the Nigerian economy.
The Vice President made the call in his Royal Guest Palace, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, when he received the President of the Islamic Development Bank, Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Ali, who paid him a courtesy visit.
Sambo, having expressed the deep appreciation for the continued support and cooperation of the IDB to Nigeria, stated that all the approvals granted by the Bank over the years have received the ratification by the National Assembly and the Federal Executive Council.
The Vice President used the opportunity to call on the Bank to consider the construction of a road linking Lagos to Abidjan in the Republic of Côte d’ivoire.
He also requested the bank to extend its support to the Nigerian private sector in the areas of education, aviation, agriculture, while calling on it to partner states in Public Private Partnership projects in the execution of priority projects.
Sambo noted the progress made by government in the power sector, construction and expansion of deep seaports, especially those of Lekki and Ibaka, as well as the development of the Aluminum Smelter Company, where he stated that efforts are being geared towards ensuring the participation of investors in the mining sector .
On the gateway office, the Vice President promised that the finalization agreement will soon be sorted out.
Sambo further said that for the progress being made in the power sector to be meaningful, more funds needed to be injected in the transmission component.
He said that Nigeria will need about $450 million from the Bank to expand transmission to wheel up to 20,000 megawatts of electricity.
In his response, Ali, said the purpose of his visit was to use the occasion to give a push to the Nigeria-IDB cooperation.
He said that the Bank has approved three out of the five projects submitted from Nigeria.
They are the construction of four new science secondary schools in Kaduna State, worth $17.9 million; construction of 300 bed specialist hospital in Kaduna State at $43.15 million; and the Zaria water supply project worth $81.0m.
He explained that the Jigawa State rural development project put at $32.40 million and the bilingual education programme for Borno, Gombe and Niger States, worth $30.53 million, were under consideration.
Ali was full of appreciation for the visit of Nigerian parliamentarians to the Bank, which he described as fruitful.
He reminded the Vice President on the finalization of the gateway agreement.
He promised to look at all the requests made with a view to giving them favourable and accelerated consideration.
He said the IDB is always pleased to accord priority to projects involving more than one member country.
The IDB president said further that the Bank was currently working on a trans-Saharan road involving several countries including Chad, Niger, Algeria, Tunisia and Nigeria, just to mention a few, that will provide a platform for a commuter travel from Africa to Europe by road.
He stated that approval will soon be given to the Lekki seaport worth the sum of $150 million.
Present at the meeting were the Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Shuni; Alhaji Isiyaku Rabiu; Kashim Bukar Shettima; and Yahaya Imam.
Others were Ambassador Umar Ahmed, the Counsel General, Nigeria Embassy; and Salah Mansour, Manager, West African Division, IDB.
Trending
- As Elegushi marks 14 years on the throne, by Temitope Oyefeso
- Bello tackles EFCC over reported refund of $760,000 by his child’s school
- Bello: Ex-presidential aide queries school for collecting $700,000 excess fees
- Man caught with human head exhumed from CAN cemetery
- Yahaya Bello: EFCC now a judge in its own cause, by Sabiu Gaya
- CAF dismisses USM appeal on controversial Confederation Cup duel
- Nigerian Idol Season 9 auditions kicks off with no Platinum Card winner yet
- Tunde Onakoya: My mum worked as a cleaner, my dad as ‘danfo’ driver, bus conductor