Nigeria gets World Bank support on poverty alleviation

from Afriquenliqne

Lagos, Nigeria - The World Bank has given a "firm commitment" to fully support Nigeria's efforts to boost economic development through the provision of critical infrastructure and other measures, according to a statement from the Nigerian presidency Wednesday.

The statement said World Bank President Robert Zoellick made the commitment during a meeting with President Umaru Yar'Adua in New York Tuesday.

At their meeting in the Headquarters of the United Nations, President Yar'Adua said his administration would welcome the bank's technical assistance and support for the Federal Government's efforts to alleviate poverty by empowering more Nigerians economically.

The President told Zoellick that speedily improving the country's infrastructure for power supply, transportation, water supply and other essential services were central to his administration's plans to create the right conditions for rapid economic growth and development.

Noting the World Bank is a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries, President Yar'Adua said his administration would be glad to benefit from its expertise and experience in capacity building for poverty reduction.

Zoellick, who was accompanied by Oby Ezekwesili of Nigeria, the World Bank's Executive Vice President for Africa, said the bank would send a team of experts to Nigeria next month to begin discussions on new areas of assistance to the Federal Government.

He promised the World Bank, which is made up of two unique development institutions – the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Development Association, would fully support the Federal Government's plans to alleviate poverty and raise the living standards of all Nigerians.

Remarking despite its current power supply problems, Nigeria remains central to the resolution of the power supply difficulties of other neighbouring countries in the West African sub-region, Zoellick promised special support for power-supply related projects such as the West African Gas Pipeline.

"We will help Nigeria to help itself and others in the region," he assured President Yar'Adua.

Ahead of his address to the 62nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly, President Yar'Adua also held bilateral talks with other heads of state and government who are in New York for the event.

At separate meetings, with Presidents John Kufuor of Ghana, Laurent Gbagbo of Cote D'Ivoire and Eduardo Dos Santos of Angola, as well as Vice President Sastou Njie-Saidy of Gambia, President Yar'Adua reaffirmed Nigeria's commitment to peace, security, political stability and economic development in West African sub-region and other parts of Africa.

He assured the Angolan President Nigeria would work in close collaboration with other members of the Luanda-based Gulf of Guinea Commission to secure the energy resources of the region for the primary benefit of citizens of member states.

President Yar'Adua also conferred with Presidents Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran, Stjepan Mesic of Croatia, Susilio Bambang Yudhayono of Indonesia, Michele Bachelet of Chile and Leonel Fernandez of the Dominican Republic.

Their discussions focused on ways of strengthening and expanding areas of economic cooperation between Nigeria and their respective countries.