The portfolio of the World Bank in various projects in Nigeria has reached $4.2 billion.
Robert Zoellick, the World Bank President made this known at a meeting of the bank’s senior officials with Acting President Goodluck Jonathan at the World Bank’s Building in Washington D.C.
Olusegun Aganga, Finance Minister said that the meeting was at the instance of the bank to underscore its support for the government.
“The meeting was very fruitful. They were very impressed with all the decisions the Acting President has taken so far and with his style of leadership. We urged the bank to do more to help Nigeria to achieve its goals and objectives. They were very interested in understanding the priorities of the Acting President,” Aganga said.
The minister said the meeting discussed crucial infrastructural and development needs of the country and how the bank could collaborate with the government.
“We talked about infrastructure; we talked about power, rail, the Petroleum Industry Bill and the Niger Delta.”
The minister stated that the projects under the portfolio of the bank in Nigeria “cut across finance, power, capacity building, infrastructure support in the Niger Delta, Lagos and urban water. In all these areas, the bank pledged to help and support us fully.”
Aganga said Nigeria would continue to attract a lot of goodwill in momentum because a lot of groups and international bodies were willing to associate with the present government. He explained that the goodwill notwithstanding, government would not lose its track of driving the economy.
The minister explained that the National Economic Team would soon be constituted as promised by the Acting President.
He assured that the members would include credible, sound minded and result-oriented Nigerians who would fast track the economy for quick results.
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