Infrastructural Devt, Agriculture, Energy Security, Tops Yobe, Arab Bank’s Negotiations

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Yobe State Governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, has described the negotiations for partnership in agriculture, infrastructural development and energy security between the state government and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, as successful with huge potential for the state.

The governor made the assessment yesterday, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, at the end of the meeting between the state government and the bank

He said: “We have explored areas of support and partnership that are beneficial to the state and its people.”

He disclosed that agriculture, vocational training, infrastructural development, education, healthcare delivery and energy security to safeguard the environment, dominated the areas of support and partnership.

Buni said: “We are passionate about agriculture being the major preoccupation of our people to improve food sufficiency, food security and economic development.

“Vocational training for our youth is another key sector to provide employment opportunities and economic growth in our reconstruction and recovery programme.

“The state government is also committed to improving the infrastructure to enhance socio-economic development in our quest to recover from the destruction by the insurgency,” Buni said.

He added that despite the huge investments in education and healthcare delivery by his administration, “there is a room for improvement, this was tabled for consideration in the partnership.”

President of the bank, Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, expressed satisfaction with the efforts made by the state government in the reconstruction, rehabilitation and recovery programme to improve the lives of the people.

“We are impressed with your efforts and commitment to improve the lives of your people, we are ready to partner your state to improve on the achievements made,” the president assured.