By Emmanuel Nduka
The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission have signed a groundbreaking agreement worth $11.18 million aimed at boosting rice production across West Africa.
The announcement was made on Tuesday through a video shared on ECOWAS’ social media platforms.
Following the signing ceremony in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, Omar Touray, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, emphasized the strategic importance of the partnership in achieving regional self-sufficiency in rice production. “This is not the first time the African Development Bank has supported us; they’ve already worked with us on flagship projects like the Lagos and Abidjan corridors. This new initiative addresses critical food security concerns,” Touray said.
He expressed his deep gratitude to Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, the President of AfDB, and the bank’s leadership, affirming the urgency of quickly implementing the program. “We have taken immediate steps to expedite the rollout of these initiatives, and we are committed to ensuring its success,” he added.
AfDB’s Director-General for Nigeria, Abdul Kamara, hailed the agreement as a historic step towards improving food security in West Africa and reducing the region’s reliance on rice imports. “This agreement, valued at $11.18 million, builds on the strength of the ECOWAS Rice Observatory and AfDB’s support for agro-industrial processing zones. Together, we are creating a solid foundation for sustainable rice production in West Africa,” Kamara noted.
This new collaboration builds on AfDB’s previous support to ECOWAS, including the $2 billion Lagos-Abidjan highway project and a 2023 agreement that provided a $100 million dual-currency credit line for West African agricultural businesses.
