Buhari commends AfDB, others for $538m agric programme in Nigeria

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday, in Senegal, commended the African Development Bank, AfDB, the Islamic Development Bank, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development for the provision of $538.05m to implement the first phase of the Nigerian Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones programme.

News reports that this was contained in a statement on Wednesday by the special adviser (Media and Publicity) to the President, International Fund.

In his remarks at the Feed Africa Summit of Heads of State and Government, Buhari urged countries to make provision for at least 10 per cent of their nations’ agricultural budgets as agreed in the Malabo Declaration of the African Heads of State and Government.

He added that nations should work to reduce the risks of lending.

“I am delighted with the multilateral financing institutions’ partnership method used for Nigeria, with African Development Bank providing $210m, the Islamic Development Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development providing $310m, and the Government of Nigeria providing $18.05m,” he said.