AfDB Presidency: Sambo Rallies Support for Agric Minister

Vice-President Namadi Sambo has urged Algeria to support the candidacy of Nigeria’s Agriculture Minister, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, as the next President of the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Sambo met with the Algerian Prime Minister, Abdelmalek Sellal, last Sunday and both leaders discussed bilateral issues relating to the development and co-operation of their two countries in various fields.

The vice-president used the occasion to solicit for the support of Algeria towards the candidature of Adesina for the presidency of the African Development Bank.

A statement from the vicepresident said Sambo who arrived Algiers last Saturday, was received by the Foreign Affairs Minister of Algeria, Ramtare Lamamra, at the Houari Bounediene International Airport, Algiers.

Sambo, who was in Algiers as a special envoy of President Goodluck Jonathan, presented a letter from the president to Algeria’s President, Abdelazeez Bouteflika.

The meeting, according to the statement, had in attendance the Nigerian Foreign Affairs, Aminu Wali; Adesina and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Algeria, Haruna Ginsau.

Also, the Algerian Ministers of Foreign Affairs, and Agriculture and Rural Development, Ramtare Lamama and Abdelouahab Nouri respectively, were part of the exchange of views on a number of regional and international issues of mutual interest to both countries.

Highlight of the event was a the presentation by Adesina in flawless French language outlining his plans for the bank if elected president,’ the statement said.