The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have signed an $11.18 million agreement to enhance rice production across the region, a move aimed at strengthening food security and reducing reliance on imports.
ECOWAS made the announcement on Tuesday via a video shared on its social media platforms.
During the signing ceremony in Abuja, Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, emphasised the importance of the partnership in achieving self-sufficiency in rice production across West African nations. He acknowledged AfDB’s continued support for regional development initiatives, including the Lagos-Abidjan corridor project and previous food security programs.
“This not the first time or the only response we have received from the African Development Bank, you would recall, African Development Bank is working with us on the flagship program, which is the Lagos corridor, the prior corridor, and they’ve now responded again to another call for support in the area of food security,” Touray said.
Expressing gratitude to AfDB President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and his team, Touray assured that ECOWAS would work swiftly to implement the program.
“I have indicated measures we have taken to expedite the implementation of programs of this nature, and we will continue to do that,” he added.
On his part, Abdul Kamara, AfDB’s Director-General for Nigeria, described the agreement as a significant step toward ensuring food security in West Africa.
“Today is a historic day. The African Development Bank and the ECOWAS commission signing an agreement of close to $12 million, $11.18 million to be precise, using the leverage of the ECOWAS rice Observatory, which we know has been doing a fantastic job in talking to the countries, in organising the countries, in sensitising them,” Kamara said.
He highlighted AfDB’s commitment to supporting agricultural development through its Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones, which focus on key value chains, including rice production.
“We know this initiative is going to lay a very solid foundation that will position West African countries to achieve self-sufficiency in rice,” Kamara added.
The latest agreement builds on AfDB’s history of supporting regional development in West Africa. In 2019, the bank backed ECOWAS in financing the $2 billion Lagos-Abidjan highway project, a critical infrastructure initiative aimed at boosting trade and connectivity.
Four years later, in 2023, AfDB and the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) signed a dual-currency credit deal worth $50 million and €50 million to support agricultural businesses across West Africa.
Chioma Kalu
ECOWAS, AfDB Sign $11.18 Million Agreement to Boost Rice Production in West Africa
EXCERPT: ECOWAS and AfDB have signed an $11.18 million agreement to boost rice production and enhance food security in West Africa.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have signed an $11.18 million agreement to enhance rice production across the region, a move aimed at strengthening food security and reducing reliance on imports.
ECOWAS made the announcement on Tuesday via a video shared on its social media platforms.
During the signing ceremony in Abuja, Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, emphasised the importance of the partnership in achieving self-sufficiency in rice production across West African nations. He acknowledged AfDB’s continued support for regional development initiatives, including the Lagos-Abidjan corridor project and previous food security programs.
“This not the first time or the only response we have received from the African Development Bank, you would recall, African Development Bank is working with us on the flagship program, which is the Lagos corridor, the prior corridor, and they’ve now responded again to another call for support in the area of food security,” Touray said.
Expressing gratitude to AfDB President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and his team, Touray assured that ECOWAS would work swiftly to implement the program.
“I have indicated measures we have taken to expedite the implementation of programs of this nature, and we will continue to do that,” he added.
On his part, Abdul Kamara, AfDB’s Director-General for Nigeria, described the agreement as a significant step toward ensuring food security in West Africa.
“Today is a historic day. The African Development Bank and the ECOWAS commission signing an agreement of close to $12 million, $11.18 million to be precise, using the leverage of the ECOWAS rice Observatory, which we know has been doing a fantastic job in talking to the countries, in organising the countries, in sensitising them,” Kamara said.
He highlighted AfDB’s commitment to supporting agricultural development through its Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones, which focus on key value chains, including rice production.
“We know this initiative is going to lay a very solid foundation that will position West African countries to achieve self-sufficiency in rice,” Kamara added.
The latest agreement builds on AfDB’s history of supporting regional development in West Africa. In 2019, the bank backed ECOWAS in financing the $2 billion Lagos-Abidjan highway project, a critical infrastructure initiative aimed at boosting trade and connectivity.
Four years later, in 2023, AfDB and the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) signed a dual-currency credit deal worth $50 million and €50 million to support agricultural businesses across West Africa.
