World Bank Backs Nigeria’s Transparency Project

The World Bank has pledged additional support towards the President’s fight to entrench accountability and transparency across the country.

The Country Director for Nigeria and Coordinating Director for West Africa Regional Integration Programme, Mr Rachid Benmessaoud, spoke to journalists during a visit to the Minister of Science and Technology in Abuja.

“At the World Bank, we think the good government of Nigeria is taking the right step in dealing with governance issues.

“Our role is to support the government of Nigeria in its efforts at improving transparency and accountability or in the development programmes that we do. It starts with accountability and transparency,” he said, adding that conversation on areas to revamp in the country is ongoing with various ministries.

Mr Rachid noted that it would be aspiring to lend huge support in other sectors like agriculture, security, solid minerals as well as science and technology to assist in repositioning Nigeria as a global economic hub of Africa.

“We have heard from a number of cabinet ministers about the importance of diversifying the revenues away from the oil sector and we have been working with both the Ministry of Agriculture and (that of) Solid Minerals in this particular area.

“We have also looked into further support in the power sector. As you know, the power sector is a binding constraint to growth. Science and Technology plays an important role in all of our support because it looks at the aspect of efficiency and innovations.”

The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, commended the move, urging civil servants to work judiciously with the nation’s available resources.

Credit: ChannelsTv