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President Muhammadu Buhari, last week, unveiled the African Development Bank (AfDB) in an event that is to consolidate the country’s position as the bank’s largest shareholder.
Information from the site revealed that the state-of-the-art Nigeria Country Department (RDNG) office complex, situated in the Central Business District (CBD) of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, is the first permanent structure to be designed and constructed in any regional member country of the bank.
Nigeria is AfDB’s largest shareholder with a portfolio of approximately $6 billion and country operations accounting for 13 per cent of the bank’s total portfolio.
Following the Board of Directors’ approval of the “Rent or Acquire Premises for Field Offices” policy and the recommendation to construct a new office in Nigeria, construction work started in January 2016 and lasted 16 months. The 220-staff capacity four-storey building will now become a model for replication in other countries.
“The bank has positioned itself as the preferred lending partner in Nigeria as it continues to support Nigeria’s long-term aspiration to be among the top 20 economies in the world by 2020,” said Ebrima Faal, Senior Director, Nigeria Country Department of AfDB.
“The bank remains grateful to the Federal Government of Nigeria for the land provided and the continuous show of solidarity to the bank. The existence of this structure is a reaffirmation of AfDB’s commitment to support Nigeria to achieve its development reforms,” said Akinwumi Adesina, President of the bank.
“The bank is highly committed to working with the private and public sectors to implement the High 5s agenda and meet the Sustainable Development Goals’ targets in Nigeria and across the continent.”
The event will be attended by top government officials, development partners, international organisations, captains of industry, the diplomatic corps and the media.
