Buhari Initiates $19bn Project, Seeks AfDB, World Bank Support

President Muhammadu Buhari has solicited fund support from the World Bank, African Development Bank, and other partners as he initiates a $19bn project.

The fund as confirmed in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, would be used for land restoration, tree planting, development of climate resilience infrastructure and investments in small and medium-sized farms.

Naija News understands that the project was mentioned yesterday as the Nigerian leader spoke at a side event he convened at the ongoing United Nations Conference Of Parties in his capacity as the President of the Conference of Heads of State and Governments of the member states.

The One Planet Summit initiative he said is important to restore socio-economic damage on Lake Chad.

He said, “The inter-basin transfer of water from Central Africa to Lake Chad should be taken seriously.”

Buhari charged the secretariat of the agency, funders, and the soon-to-be appointed consultant to carry out the measure as a way of restoring the socio-economy of the more than 30 million people of the Lake Chad basin area.

He said: “As it is at the present, the drying up of the Lake Chad had destroyed fish farming, animal husbandry, and crop agriculture leading to social and economic dislocation with serious consequences for peace in the basin area.

“This has led to migration to Europe by many, creating problems for you over there. These should engage your attention as a committee.”