The President of African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, recently unveiled partnership plans with the government of Niger to speed up development in the country.
The AFDB President, who has been on an official visit to Niger, held a meeting with the head of state, Mahamadou Issoufou at Niamey the Republic capital, as they discussed and stated both the country’s and the AFDB Group priorities, as defined in the High 5s.
The Niger head of state mentioned a number of plans and vision that the country has begun and also some of the prospective agendas that the country is yet to embark on, calling for the support of the AFDB in key sectors of energy and agriculture, and most importantly access to portable water.
“We have launched the Nigeriens Nourish Nigeriens initiative, aiming to reduce poverty – which mainly affects women and rural populations – to 31% and enabling the complete eradication of hunger in Niger by 2021,” announced the Nigerien President.
“To achieve this”, he continued, “we are focusing on irrigation and water management with the support of the AfDB, our Bank, which shares our vision.”
In response to the head of state, the AFDB president suggested solutions and also highlighted bilateral cooperation between the AfDB and the Niger republic that will speed up development for both parties.
“I am convinced that the construction of the Kandadji dam, one of the projects we are financing here in Niger, will enable your country to overcome challenges in agriculture and energy,”
“Once complete, the Kandadji dam will produce 1.5 billion square metres, 125 MW, and will allow about 45,000 hectares of land to be irrigated.”
“The development of the energy sector is crucial for deep and sustainable change in the country and its industrialization,” insisted Adesina. “The off-grid solution remains most suitable in the current situation. The AfDB will mobilize the resources required to light up Niger and supply energy in conjunction with the private sector. I remain convinced that access to electricity is an essential condition for development.”
