Reps urge FG, ECOWAS to support Adesina for AfDB presidency

THE House of Representatives has called on the Presidency and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to continue to support the candidacy of Akinwumi Adesina for the position of the African Development Bank (AfDB) President.

In a motion introduced on the floor by Munir Dan’ Agundi ‎titled “Need To Support The Minister Of Agriculture And Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina For The Candidacy Of President Of African Development Bank” the parliament noted that the leadership of the bank, if not carefully chosen, may not bring about the needed eradication of poverty in the next decade.

Earlier in his submission, Dan’ Agundi noted that “the sterling and academic qualities of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, coupled with his experience of working in Francophone ‎and Anglophone countries and his tremendous passion for poverty eradictation through reduction of unemployment among Nigerian youths, qualified him for the job.

Adesina is one of the short listed candidates for the job.

He explained that it was through the African Development Bank that great inequalities like poverty on the Africa continent can be addressed.

The lawmaker noted that the decision of the bank to elect a new president is one of the most important decisions for not only the institution but the continent as a whole.

In another development, the House of Representatives has urged the federal government to immediately commence the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the communities which have been confirmed liberated by the military in the North-East.

The Nigerian military have in the recent past recaptured and liberated some of the communities which hitherto use to be under the control of the insurgents.
Adopting the prayers of a motion on the floor yesterday, the House said the reconstruction and rehabilitation can be achieved without delay through the collaboration of the Victims Support Fund (VSF), the Presidential Initiative for the North-East (PINE) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

Sponsor of the motion, Abdulrahman Terab told the chamber that most of the internally displaced persons whose communities have been fully liberated and are physically and psychologically desirous and determined to return to their liberated communities in order to free up the camps and allow more space for some incoming IDPs that are recently being rescued.

Lamenting that most of the internally displaced camps are at the moment overstretched with severe challenges of both space and resources, Terab explained that the return of the IDPs to their communities must be supported by certain basic infrastructure and rehabilitation as already envisaged by various government intentions, programs and as well captured in the 2015 budget.