AfDB earmarks $1.5bn Africa emergency food plan

The President of the Africa Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, says AfDB has developed a $1.5 billion Africa Emergency Food Plan, which is now before the bank’s Board for approval.

Adesina said the move was to mitigate the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on food security in Africa.

He stated that the Russia-Ukraine war would create global problems, particularly for Africa, which imports a huge percentage of its food from the two countries.

The AfDB President was quoted as saying via a statement issued and made available to The Star on Tuesday by Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity.

Dr. Adesina, who was at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday, briefed President Buhari on steps being taken by AfDB to avert food crisis in Africa in the foreseeable future.

“In total, our support will help Nigeria to produce 9.5 million metric tons of food,” he stated.

According to him, states that will benefit from the assistance include Kano, Ogun, Oyo, Kaduna, Imo, Cross River, and the Federal Capital Territory.

Adesina added: “Already, the price of wheat has gone up about 60%. Maize and other grains will also be affected. There may be fertilizer crisis, as there would be about 2 million metric tons deficit. And that will affect food production by about 20%. Africa will lose $11 billion worth of food, and coming shortly after COVID-19, that would be rather serious.

“We were not ready for COVID-19, but we are now planning to avert food crisis on the continent. There is plan to help farmers cultivate wheat, maize, rice, sorghum, and soybeans. It will mitigate the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war.”

The AfDB President, however, assured Buhari that Nigeria won’t feel the impact of the food crisis, saying: “Mr President, you have a passion for agriculture. We are behind you strongly, and we want to ensure Nigeria won’t feel the impact of the food crisis.”

Speaking, President Buhari lauded the AfDB for planning ahead of whatever negative consequences may come from the Russia-Ukraine war in terms of food security.

“Thank you for knowing our weaknesses and our strengths, and for planning and working ahead.

“We are very much aware of the need for food security, and to encourage our local farmers, that was why we closed our borders for about two years to curb smuggling. We made some progress,” Buhari said.

The Star

Segun Ojo