IMF COMES TO NIGER?S AID

THE International Monetary Fund has given final approval to a three-year loan totalling $76m for Niger to help that country’s anti-poverty efforts. The IMF’s executive board acted after the World Bank last week approved Niger’s interim poverty reduction plan. Per capita income in Niger has fallen by 40% over the last two decades, the IMF said. About $11m of the loan will be made available immediately.