Nigerian Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy, Wale Edun has sought for extension of Projects by International Food Agricultural Development (IFAD) to enable the Government achieve its objectives in food security.
The Minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary Finance, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Lydia Shehu Jafiya, made the appealed during a courtesy visit by the delegation of IFAD, led by Associate Vice President, D Brown in Abuja on Friday.
She stressed the Federal Government’s cordial relationship and synergy with the IFAD to creating avenues in capacity building and prudence management of financial engagement and commended the laudable programmes initiated by the IFAD, saying “it has achieved lots in Nigeria”.
Jafiya mentioned that the organization have been engaging with the Government and private sectors on the way forward in food security, adding that the Federal Government believes on Public Private Partnership (PPP), which will go a long way in achieving the objectives of the project.
She stated that IFAD is a global institution that carter for the poor, hence would not take the visit for granted, adding that IFAD has a greater role to play globally.
She decried the challenges that emanated as a result of delayed in timely release of counterpart fundings from state govts, poor salary and outstanding payment for IFAD’S replenishment, which had hampered the smooth running of some projects.
The Permanent Secretary assured that, Government is working seriously on the liabilities and obligation and very soon all the challenges would be things of the past, pointing out that approval have been made and that it is only the procedure for the payment that is still pending.
The Director International Economic Relations, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mr. George Stanley hinted that the Ministry has a robust engagement as well as good working relationship that has been built over time with the IFAD and assured that the Ministry has mapped out strategies to adequately address the challenges.
Earlier, in his remarks, the Associate Vice President, IFAD, D Brown, expressed satisfaction with the Federal Government reforms especially the recent declaration of emergency on food security by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while pledging their support, promised to support the Federal Government in all it policies and programmes.
He added that Nigeria is one of the leading country in Africa, not only in leadership positions but in Economic growth, noting that, the organization is working with the Federal Government to design a new project for climate change and value chain.
Brown disclosed that IFAD is working to address the challenges in the Niger-Delta region and the flagship programmes in the North-Central of the country.