Nigeria Commodity Associations canvass support for Adesina 

• Caution Against Victimisation 

Fifty-five commodity associations, under the aegis of Federation of Commodities Association of Nigeria (FACAN), have rooted support for the embattled President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina, insisting allegations of ethical misconduct levelled against him were attempts by interests to discredit him. 

In a letter to the Bureau of Board of Governors, the association described Adesina’s landmark achievements as Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and his unprecedented reforms at the AfDB since 2015, as exemplary. 

They said Adesina’s visionary leadership prowess ensured the bank was strategically positioned, both globally and regionally, to steer Africa’s development agenda. 

FACAN Deputy President, Sherif Balogun, during a press conference, yesterday, in Abuja, said the organisation, with a member strength of over five million farmers, was supporting Adesina.

Balogun said Adesina has been able to recapitalise the bank, set up African Investments Infrastructural Development Fund, and has raised the bank’s capital.  He said investigations carried out by the bank’s Ethics Committee did not indict him.

Also, FACAN Vice President, Mohammed Kabir, said Adesinahad embarked on laudable policies that ensured processing of agriculture commodities before export thereby, creating employment opportunities and developing market, such that Africa would be able to produce finished value goods for export and increase forex for African countries.