President Muhammadu Buhari has advised the African Export and Import Bank (AFREXIM) to do more in building infrastructure and development of the real sector of the economy.
According to the President, who received in audience at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, today, Thursday, members of the Board of African Export and Import Bank, AFREXIM, led by Dr Benedict Okey, such concentration on real sector will reduce the nation’s infrastructure deficit.
“The Federal Government will keep knocking on the doors of the bank to participate more in building infrastructure and developing the real sector.
“We realize 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 is facing a challenge of fixing and putting in place long delayed infrastructure and will need strong partnerships for quick and better results.
Buhari, who pledged that his government will remain committed to full implementation of all agreements, said: “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.”
The President considered it an honour for Nigeria to host AFREXIM’s Annual General Meeting and 25th Anniversary in Abuja.
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 that 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.
