African Development Bank strengthens ties with Nigeria and ECOWAS

The African Development Bank (AfDB) is strengthening partnerships with key West African institutions to drive regional development and infrastructure projects.

In Nigeria, Finance Minister Taiwo Oyedele and AfDB President Dr Sidi Ould Tah have agreed to a joint technical review of the Bank’s portfolio. This review aims to identify implementation bottlenecks and align ongoing operations with the Nigerian government’s development priorities. Nigeria has expressed its intention to remain the Bank’s largest shareholder and meet its capital subscription obligations. Additionally, the AfDB is developing a facility to provide African governments with technical support when engaging with international credit rating agencies to address high borrowing costs.

Simultaneously, the ECOWAS Commission met with AfDB leadership in Abidjan to discuss deepening cooperation under the ECOWAS Vision 2050. Discussions focused on regional infrastructure, specifically the Abidjan–Lagos Corridor, as well as trade, investment, human capital development, and conflict prevention. Both institutions emphasized the need for a more structured platform to ensure that regional integration efforts translate into tangible economic improvements for citizens across West Africa.