By Adedapo Adesanya
As part of the efforts by the African Development Bank (AfDB) to drive infrastructural development in Nigeria, the sum of $250 million will be invested in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja to improve technology, agriculture, water supply and sanitation in satellite towns.
Senior Director at AfDB, Mr Ebrima Faal, stated during a six-man delegation visit to the FCT Minister of State, Mrs Ramatu Aliyu, in the nation’s capital on Sunday that the bank intends to invest in the development of Abuja Technology Village.
He said a number of studies are ongoing in various components of the integrated project, including Information and communications technology (ICT), fashion and infrastructural development.
He also expressed satisfaction that over 20,000 hectares of land has been made available for the development of the Special Agro-industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) for job creation and poverty reduction in the federal capital, adding that the bank will be working alongside co-financiers to achieve the objectives.
Speaking on the water projects, he said: “Giving the nature of the budget in both the water and sanitation projects, we are thinking of working together with the Climate Funds, the Great Climate Funds, to come in as co-financiers.”
The FCT Minister, Mrs Ramatu Aliyu, assured the AfDB delegation that the administration would key into the project and any other projects that would be beneficial to the residents of the territory.
She said that the that integrated farming programme in the satellite towns will be pursued vigorously by the administration.
“I know that we are very keen to work with you, and I have listened to you very carefully to elaborate on some of your projects.
“We have been working assiduously on the Special Agro-industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ), and it might interest you to know that a task team is already constituted, and besides that, expression of interest is ready for submission.
“If you look at it primarily for all that you have outlined today, the most beneficial for the people of the FCT, especially those in urban areas or the satellite towns, is the integrated farming programme or urban agriculture.
“We have strategic plans and we are ready to work with you.” She added.
This project will be another one of the projects that the AfDB is carrying out in Nigeria. Business Post reported last year that the Bank’s board of directors approved an amount of around $124.2 million loan to finance the Urban Water Sector Reform and Akure Water Supply and Sanitation Project in Nigeria.
Modupe Gbadeyanka