AfDB mulls release of $1.1bn support for Nigeria, others to fight climate change
President of African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has disclosed that the bank would seek the approval of its board to consider $1.1bn to support Nigeria, South Sudan, Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia to build medium and long-term resilience to climate change challenges.
Dropping the hint in Lagos during his goodwill message at the ongoing Feed Nigeria Summit, he noted that the fund would be used to address the current drought challenges arising from climate change in order to avoid famine in these countries.
According to him, “Over 4.5 million people in the northern part of the country suffer from risks of severe malnutrition due to droughts.
“Lake Chad is rapidly shrinking.
“That’s why I applaud and fully support President Muhammad’s Buhari’s leadership and efforts on rehabilitation of the Lake Chad basin.
”This is because climate change is affecting Nigeria, South Sudan, Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia,” he said.
Industry players say there are fears whether the bank board will go ahead to approve the deal considering the fact some of the listed beneficiaries have a history of grant abuse and diversion over the years which lead to the speedy shrinking of several African water bodies they are supposed to protect ab-initio.
