President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday in Abuja called for stronger
partnership with lending banks to reduce the nation’s infrastructure
deficit, assuring of his administration’s full commitment to implement all
agreements.
Receiving the Board of African Export and Import Bank, AFREXIM, led by Dr
Benedict Okey, at the Presidential Villa, President Buhari said the
Federal Government will keep “knocking on the doors’’ of the banks to
participate more in building infrastructure and developing the real
sector.
“We are grateful for the much you are doing for us, but we will continue
to knock on your doors for more and more as we strive to overcome our
infrastructure deficit.
“We realise that we do need money to fix the appalling state of
infrastructure we met; to do roads, railways, power and communications – a
sector now mostly in private hands which is doing very well.
“Don’t be tired of us. We will be coming to you again and again. Please
accommodate us,’’ the President told the Board of AFREXIM.
President Buhari said the nation already faces a challenge of fixing and
putting in place long delayed infrastructure and will need strong
partnerships for quick and better results.
The President said it was an honour for Nigeria to host AFREXIM’s Annual
General Meeting and 25th Anniversary in Abuja.
In his remarks, the President and Chairman of AFREXIM Board of Directors,
Dr. Oramah expressed satisfaction with the support of the Nigerian
government in the operations of the bank, noting that the bank’s
confidence in Nigeria justifies the huge loans it had granted to the
country.
He said the 20,000 participants attending the Annual General Meeting had
already expressed their satisfaction with the quality of arrangements for
the event, which includes security.