The African Development Bank, AfDB, on Tuesday restated its support for the Federal Government’s economic recovery efforts, denying reports it had cancelled a $400 million loan to Nigeria.
Reuters news agency had reported that the Bank called off negotiations for a loan to Nigeria that was meant to help government fund its budget.
The report quoted the Bank’s Vice-President for Power, Energy, Climate Change & Green Growth, Amadou Hott, as making the disclosure on Monday in an interview during a Nordic-African business conference in Oslo, Norway.
Mr. Hott was reported to have said that the AfDB would rather be willing to redirect the fund to specific projects in Nigeria, than give government to fund the deficit in the 2017 budget.
But a statement on Tuesday made available to The Niche from the Ministry of Finance stated as follows:
“The African Development Bank wishes to categorically refute the statement that it has “called off loans to Nigeria”, as reported in Reuters and credited to AfDB Vice-President for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth Amadou Hott.
“The African Development Bank is highly encouraged by the economic recovery of Nigeria from recession and salutes the Government’s efforts towards diversification of the economy.
“The Bank also strongly supports the Economic and Growth Recovery Plan of the Government and efforts to stem corruption and strengthen fiscal consolidation and efficiency.
“In November 2016, the Board of the African Development Bank approved a $600-million loan to support Nigeria’s efforts to cope with macroeconomic and fiscal shocks that arose from the massive decline in price of crude oil.
“An additional $400 million in support could be considered, if requested and approved by the Board, as part of a larger coordinated effort with other development partners, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
“The African Development Bank is in consultations with the Government on how best to continue its support for its laudable Economic and Growth Recovery Plan through investment projects that will help address existing structural challenges, including infrastructure, power, agriculture and support to boost private sector and job creation.
“The Bank assures the Nigerian Government of its full support for its continued reforms to diversify the economy and boost economic growth and development.”