Victor EzejaThe African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have sealed a $11.18 million deal to increase rice production in the region.
This was made known in a video shared on ECOWAS X handle on Tuesday, 11 March 2025.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelFollowing the signing ceremony in Abuja, ECOWAS commission president Omar Touray emphasised the importance of the collaboration in helping West African countries become self-sufficient in their rice production.
Touray said: “This is not the first time or the only response we have received from the African Development Bank, you would recall, African Development Bank is working with us on the flagship programme, which is the Lagos corridor, the prior corridor, and they’ve now responded again to another call for support in the area of food security.”
He expressed gratitude to the AfDB president, Dr Akinwumi Adeshina, and the entire management of the bank for the support to the subregion.
Touray also assured that the commission will work very fast on the implementation of the programme.
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AfDB’s director-general for Nigeria, Abdul Kamara, stated that the project would create a strong foundation for the area, putting African nations in a position to achieve food security and lessen their reliance on imported rice.
His words: “Today is a historic day. The African Development Bank and the ECOWAS commission signing an agreement of close to $12 million, $11.18 million to be precise, using the leverage of the ECOWAS rice Observatory, which we know has been doing a fantastic job in talking to the countries, in organising the countries, in sensitising them.”
“And with the African Development Bank having developed the special agro industry processing zones, with focus is on specific value chains, and riding one of those, we know this initiative is going to lay a very solid foundation that will position West African countries to to achieve self sufficiency in rice,” Kamara added.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
