AfDB releases $250m for rehabilitation of N/East

By Lawrence Olaoye

President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina, has disclosed that his institution has released the sum of $250 million for the rehabilitation of the North East.
Adesina who dropped the hint in Abidjan yesterday on the sideline of the 5th European Union-African Union (EU-AU) Summit, also noted that Nigeria’s economy improved simultaneously with the Oresident’s health saying “so it seems there is a correlation between the President’s health and the improved economy.“
Adesina added that the AfDB’s building behind the Yar’Adua Centre which was started in 2016 had completed.
According to him, the building is the first of such by the AfDB outside its Abidjan headquarters. He requested the President to be present for its commissioning.
Adesina said, “I want to thank you immensely. I want to thank God for your health because I must say that for all of us that has been a big concern. But seeing you fit as a fiddle and seeing you back in action, we thank God for that and may God continue to give you great strength.
“Mr. President as you must have noticed, there is a very strong correlation between your health and the economy and when you came back the economy picked up after that. So we wish you great health so that the the economy can continue to pick.
I also want to congratulate you for the economic growth and recovery plan that you have put in place and the incredible plan that you have put in place to bring the economy out of recession and also in terms of the fact that Nigeria has moved up in the World Bank ease of doing business index. It’s to your leadership, vision and commitment that we want to from the African Development Bank commend you Mr. President and to assure you of our strong support behind you and your government for the efforts to try and move Nigeria forward. We are solidly behind you, you can count on that.
“I also want to thank you for your leadership on the Boko Haram issue because to draw investments into Nigeria, you absolutely have to have security. I think that securing our borders is very very important thanks to your leadership for that. I also thank you for all the efforts you have made in the Lake Chad Basin Area.
“I was with you in Paris where you led the efforts in reviving the Lake Chad Basin. As you know Mr. President, the bank is very strongly behind that. We put in $250 million to support the northeast of Nigeria rebuilding. I know you were criticized for rebuilding but I don’t see anything wrong. If things get destroyed they have to be rebuilt and the African Development Bank has contributed $250 million towards that.”