By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
Mallam Umar Namadi,Governor of Jigawa State on Wednesday, paid a visit to the World Bank Country Office in Abuja, where he was received by Mr. Shubham Chaudhury, the Bank’s Country Director, and his staff. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss collaboration and seek assistance from the World Bank to address critical issues facing Jigawa State.
During the meeting, Chaudhury presented a comprehensive overview of the World Bank’s activities in Nigeria, highlighting the bank’s support to states through investment project financing, development policy financing, and program-for-result financing. He emphasized the importance of fiscal management as a prerequisite for accessing the bank’s financing and underscored the bank’s commitment to a more structural and result-based approach. This collaboration forms part of the partnership with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum.
Namadi drew attention to the significant developmental challenges faced by Jigawa State, necessitating external assistance. Notably, the state has been severely impacted by recurring floods, resulting in the destruction of critical infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and the submergence of over 400,000 hectares of farmlands. In light of the impending threat of this year’s predicted flooding, as indicated by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Governor highlighted the urgent need for support from the World Bank.
The Governor expressed Jigawa State’s specific requirements for assistance in key sectors, including agriculture, economic empowerment, health, and environmental disasters. The assistance sought may manifest in various forms, such as capacity building and financial aid to execute various peoples oriented projects. Given the dire situation faced by farmers, there is a looming threat of food insecurity not only in Jigawa State but also across the entire nation.
The Governor requested the World Bank’s support in providing solar pumps, expanding irrigation facilities, and introducing modern techniques of irrigation farming to mitigate this imminent crisis adding that Education also remains a crucial area where the Governor seeks the bank’s assistance. He emphasized the need for capacity building and training of teachers, as well as the rehabilitation and upgrading of then seven skills acquisition centers owned by the state. Additionally, Jigawa State looks to the World Bank for support in the provision of e-learning facilities and youth skills acquisition and development.
In response, the World Bank Country Director, Mr. Chaudhury, assured Governor Namadi that the bank would thoroughly review the demands presented during the meeting. He pledged to explore appropriate financing options to address the pressing needs of Jigawa State and expressed the bank’s commitment to fostering a collaborative and integrated approach towards sustainable development.
The Jigawa State Government eagerly anticipates the World Bank’s support in tackling these challenges, as it seeks to enhance the well-being of its citizens and contribute to Nigeria’s overall socio-economic development. By leveraging the expertise and resources of the World Bank, Jigawa State aims to build resilience, boost productivity, and create an enabling environment for its people to thrive.