Press release number: IFAD 28/02

Rome, 21 May 2002 – A Programme Agreement was signed today at the IFAD headquarters in Rome between Mr. Alhaji Abubakar Sadeeq Ahmed Yelwa, Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development, Kebbi State; Mr. Alhaji Bello Makau Ruwan Dorawa, Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Zamfara State; Mr. Alhaji Bukar Tijani, Programme Manager, Borno State Agricultural Development Programme; Mr. Alhaji Baba Bukar Machinama, Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Yobe State; Mr. Alhaji Isa Saddiq Acida, Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Sokoto State; Mr. Alhaji Yusuf Bello Mai’adua, Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Katsina State; Mr. Alhaji Yusuf Ubali Hashim, Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Jigawa State; and Mr. Lennart Båge, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development. The original programme agreement for a total of USD 68.65 million was signed on 11 December in Abuja by the Federal Minister of Finance, H.E. Mr. Mallam Adamu Ciroma and President Båge.

The loan extended by IFAD to the Federal Republic of Nigeria was for USD 29.9 million on highly concessional terms¹. The loan will co-finance the Community-Based Agricultural and Rural Development Programme, a USD 68.5 worth IFAD-initiated programme to be implemented in the eight northern Nigerian states of Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Jigawa, Yobe, Kano and Borno.

The programme will support the Government’s efforts to address rural poverty by identifying the most deprived people and empowering them to effectively participate in development activities. The overall goal is to improve the livelihoods and living conditions of poor rural communities in the programme area, with special emphasis on women and other vulnerable groups. This goal will be pursued by using federal, state and local government, community and IFAD resources in at least 234 villages areas in 8 Northern states of Nigeria. In line with the on-going decentralization process in Nigeria, the programme will particularly strengthen the local governments and village-level communities. The local partners of the Community-Based Agricultural and Rural Development Programme will participate through five main types of activities: community awareness; empowerment and capacity building; sustainable agricultural development; rural microenterprise and financial support services; and village-level community infrastructure. The Programme Agreement with the State of Kano will be signed at a later period.

Since 1985 to date, IFAD has financed five projects in Nigeria, for a total loan commitment of about USD 102 million. All projects have focused on the needs of poor rural communities, smallholder farmers, artisanal fishermen, the rural landless and targeted women in particular. IFAD’s operations in the country have successfully contributed to commodity development and food security, technology generation and transfers, new approaches to rural and community development, soil conservation and environmental management and the provision of agricultural support services.

 

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IFAD is a specialized agency of the United Nations with the specific mandate of combating hunger and poverty in the most disadvantaged regions of the world. Since 1978 IFAD has financed 603 projects in 115 recipient countries and in the West Bank and Gaza for a total commitment of approximately USD 7.3 billion in loans and grants. Through these projects, about 250 million rural people have had a chance to move out of poverty. IFAD makes the greater part of its resources available to low-income countries on very favorable terms, with up to 40 years for repayment and including a grace period of up to ten years and a service charge of 0.75% per year.

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1/ IFAD makes the greater part of its resources available to low-income countries on very favourable terms, with up to 40 years for repayment and including a grace period of up to ten years and a service charge of 0.75% per year.