World Bank pledges support for Yar'Adua's govt

World Bank pledges support for Yar'Adua's govt
PRESIDENT Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has received a commitment from the World Bank to fully support his administration.

The bank made the pledge when its President. Mr. Robert Zoellick met with Yar'Adua on Tuesday.

Making good its word, the World Bank will next month send a team of experts to Nigeria to begin discussion of new areas of assistance to the Federal Government.

The bank is made up of two development institutions - the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Development Association.

During their meeting at the Headquarters of the United Nations (UN), New York, President Yar'Adua said that his administration looks forward to the bank's technical support for the Federal Government's efforts to alleviate poverty by empowering more Nigerians economically.

The President also conferred with Presidents Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (Iran); Stjepan Mesic (Croatia); Susilio Bambang Yudhayono (Indonesia); Michele Bachelet (Chile) and Leonel Fernandez of the Dominican Republic.

He also held separate meetings with Presidents John Kufuour (Ghana); Laurent Gbagbo (Cote D'Ivoire); Eduardo Dos Santos (Angola) and Vice President Sastou Njie-Saidy of Gambia, reaffirming Nigeria's commitment to peace, security, political stability and economic development in the West African sub-region and other parts of Africa.

Yar'Adua told the World Bank President that speedily improving the country's infrastructure for power supply, transportation, water supply and other essential services were central to his administration's plans to create the right conditions for rapid economic growth and development.

Acknowledging the World Bank as a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries, President Yar'Adua said that his administration would be glad to benefit from its expertise and experience in capacity building for poverty reduction.

Zoellick, who was accompanied by Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, the World Bank's Executive Vice President for Africa, promised that the World Bank would fully support the Federal Government's plans to alleviate poverty and raise the living standards of all Nigerians.

Remarking that despite its power supply problems, Nigeria remain central to the resolution of the power supply difficulties of other neighbouring countries in the West African sub-region, Zoellick promised special support for power supply related projects such as the West African Gas Pipeline.

"He will help Nigeria to help itself and others in the region."

Ahead of his address to the 62nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, President Yar'Adua also held bilateral talks with other heads of state and government who are in New York for the event.

He assured the Angolan President that Nigeria would work in close collaboration with other members of the Luanda-based Gulf of Guinea Commission to secure the energy resources of the region for the primary benefit of citizens of member states.