AfDB and Nigeria's Kano State Government Discuss Development Collaboration

1 February 2016
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African Development Bank (Abidjan)

Governor Ganduje presents the Kano State Development Road Map to AfDB Country Director Ousmane Dore

Nigeria's Kano State Government has solicited support from the African Development Bank to enable the Government implement its development programmes. In a meeting at the Bank premises in Abuja on Friday, December 22, 2015, the Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, described the State as an agricultural hub with diverse resources and immense potential. He urged the Bank to support the efforts his administration to improve the people's living standards by investing in the State's non-oil commodities to boost the economy.

The discussion centered on current initiatives, as well as emerging priorities of the State. Agriculture, hydro-power generation, light rail transport, youth employment, synergized irrigation schemes, and rural road networks were identified as potential areas of collaboration. The Governor noted that all the sectors under consideration fell within the Bank's "High 5" priorities. The State's Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Aisha Bello, said that the Government was prepared to provide the required counterpart funding for the joint projects' implementation from its $274-billion budget.

The AfDB Country Director, Ousmane Dore, highlighted the Bank's operations in the State, adding that some of the sectors mentioned in the Governor's brief were already receiving AfDB support. Kano State is among the State Governments benefitting from the AfDB-funded Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme Phase-I (ATASP-I). The programme will construct 330 kilometres of feeder roads, 230 kilometres of irrigation and water conveyance canals, 229 hydraulic structures, nine boreholes, as well as build two community markets and two health centres in the State.

A multi-state, five-year Youth Employment Programme in Agribusiness currently being developed will also create training and employment opportunities for 6,000 youths per State, including Kano. He urged the Governor to identify the State's specific areas of interest with the federal Finance Ministry and assured him of the Bank's continued support.

Read the original article on African Development Bank (AfDB).

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