By Obansa Ibrahim, Lokoja
The Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo, has released over N1.6billion for projects execution in 80 communities under the Nigeria Community Action For Resilience and Economic stimulus (NG CARES).
The General Manager, Kogi State Community and Social Development Agency (KSPHCDA)
Chief Dauda Momoh disclosed this on Monday in Okene during the training for Community Project Management Committee, (CPMC) on community project implementation and financial management.
Momoh noted that the agency will be executing 170 Micro Projects with about 200,000 beneficiaries spread across the State.
He explained that the present administration under Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo is poised to deliver dividends of democracy to the poor and vulnerable people in the society.
According to him, “This is one of the process. One of it is to equip the communities that is expected during the implementation. They are the one to implement the project why ours is to support them financially and also monitor what they do. This is the last phase of the training before flag-off. After this training, procurement will be done and the flag off will come up immediately.
“Each community have identified their pressing need and we have also listen to them. The one we can do we will agree with them and the one we can not do we will explain to them that we can not do that.
” We know we have budget envelopes. The project is more open for as much as we can spend. In as much some project may exceed the budget because of the importance of that project, and having it completed will be a plus for the State and the community. In such instances, we have also taken a critical look of such community and we are going to do our best to ensure that we succeed.
“We are going to do about 80 development plans. That means we are going to intervene in about 80 communities or more. For now, we have 40 already being implemented and 40 will start at the end of the month.
“The N1.6billion is the direct money to be given to this community in the first phase of this project. The resources to execute this project is already with the agency”
He urged the Community Implementation Committee’s of the projects to adhere to the specifications, pointing out that, the agency would sanction and blacklist defaulters.
The General Manager, however, commended the present administration for providing funds needed for the NG-CARES, which was the reason why the project implementation is unhindered.
He assured that all the ongoing projects across the State would be completed at the expected time and delivered for commissioning.
In his remarks, the Ohi of Ihima and Chairman Okehi Local Government Traditional Council Alhaji Ahmed Abdulraheem commended the agency for their achievements in the State stressing that their interventions will make life better for the people at the grassroots.
He said ” Education, water, health, sanitation, food and shelter among others are one of the basic of any nation according to the United Nations. This are the viral areas the agency is intervening. Through out the nooks and crannies of the State, the contributions of Kogi State Community and Social Development Agency to the aforementioned areas can not be over emphacized”
On his part, representative of the media and Publisher of the Nigeria Post Newspaper Mike Abu expressed satisfaction with the performance of the agency in Kogi State.
“This is one agency in Kogi State that I am always proud to be associated with. Is one agency that has been transparent in the execution of projects. I have not seen an agency in Nigeria that has surpass the achievement of of Kogi State Community and Social Development Agency (KSPHCDA).
While charging participants to take the training very serious, he further commended Governor Ahmed Ododo for his selfless service to the people of Kogi State.
“The administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo is different. This is a Man who came to an office with a clean heart. No administration has been accepted and received by all in Kogi State ike that of Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo. He is doing well and deserved all the accolades”he stated.
It was gathered that the training in Okene was organized for seven communities in Kogi State namely Jakura, Apamaru, Oke-Offin, Ekinrin Added, Ayere, Aingidi Ofinran, and Isanlu Esa.