The Government of Tanzania has celebrated the transformative leadership of African Development Bank (AfDB) President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, highlighting the bank’s substantial investments in national infrastructure—particularly the Msalato International Airport in Dodoma.
During Adesina’s official two-day visit, President Samia Suluhu Hassan took him on a tour of major AfDB-financed projects that are reshaping Tanzania’s transport landscape and boosting its regional integration. A key highlight was the under-construction Msalato International Airport, which features a 3.6-kilometre runway capable of accommodating wide-body aircraft like the Airbus A380.
Expected to be completed by the end of 2026, the $198 million airport is co-funded by the African Development Bank, the African Development Fund, and the Africa Growing Together Fund. It is designed to position Dodoma as a critical gateway, easing passenger and cargo movements while enhancing East Africa’s aviation capacity.
President Suluhu Hassan praised Adesina’s visionary leadership and the bank’s $9 billion commitment to Tanzania since 1971—with $4.73 billion of that total provided under Adesina’s tenure over the past decade.
In a symbolic gesture of appreciation, the Tanzanian government renamed the 112-kilometre Dodoma Outer Ring Road—also funded by the AfDB—as “Dr Akinwumi Adesina Road,” underscoring his legacy of impact across Africa.
Adesina, visibly moved, thanked President Suluhu Hassan and addressed the crowd in Kiswahili, reaffirming the bank’s dedication to supporting inclusive, sustainable development.
