The President has challenged banks in the country to fund infrastructural development in Africa.

President Jonathan was speaking to the Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Ecobank Transnational Inc., Thierry Tanoh, at the State House, Abuja on Monday.

“We need banks that can fund infrastructural development in Africa. For instance, we should not go to Europe before coming to neighbouring countries because our transport infrastructure is weak,” he stated.

The President, according to his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, said the continent’s private sector must play a more robust role to quicken the development of the continent.

Earlier, Mr Tanoh had told the President that the bank, formed in response to a challenge by the ECOWAS Chamber of Commerce, was celebrating its 25th anniversary of operations, and wanted more equity investments from the sub-region.

He said Ecobank was ready to support the planned Lagos-to-Abidjan highway.