ANEEJ Welcomes WB President to Nigeria, Urges Him to Prioritize Engagement with CSOs
BENIN CITY, NIGERIA. August 3, 2023… The Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) has welcomed the President of World Bank, Ajay Banga to Nigeria and urged him to prioritize engagement with civil society organisations, while meeting with other stakeholders. A statement by the Bretton Woods Institution indicates that Banga will be in Nigeria for a three-day visit and will focus his time on identifying opportunities to create jobs for young people and women, addressing energy needs and renewable energy, and further exploring the potential for digitisation.
The Executive Director of ANEEJ, the Rev. David Ugolor, made the position known in a press release made available to newsmen.
“We warmly welcome the World Bank President, Ajay Banga to Nigeria as we emphasize the need for him to prioritize engagement with civil society organisations, while meeting with other stakeholders. We would like to encourage him to ensure that the World Bank anti-corruption strategy is properly implemented in Nigeria to guarantee proper oversight on the utilisation of the $800 million palliative to be distributed through cash transfer programme to about 50 million Nigeria”, Ugolor stated.
“We urge the World Bank to be transparent in the procurement process to get the monitoring team that will monitor and report the utilisation of the fund. Just as we have done in the past, ANEEJ will independently monitor the process to ensure that the programme benefits its intended target and that it is not used to pursue political agenda”, Ugolor added.
“The visit of the World Bank President is an opportunity to engage critical stakeholders like civil society that monitored the National Social Safety Net (NASSCO) programme in Nigeria, considering the controversy surrounding the implementation of the Cash Transfer Programme which was funded by the recovered Abacha Stolen Public Fund and loan from the International Development Association (IDA). The feedback and comments from the critical stakeholders will help the World Bank President to assess the success of the past programme and also make the necessary reform as the Federal Government is about to implement the new Cash Transfer Programme.” Ugolor concluded.
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