The Abia State Government has paid a counterpart fund of ₦3.5 billion to support the implementation of key rural development projects across the State.
The intervention, executed under the World Bank-supported Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Program (RAAMP), will see the rehabilitation and upgrading of roads as well as the establishment of agro-logistics hubs in at least 10 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the State.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council Meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
Kanu noted that the payment was a requirement for the commencement of six slots of backlog road maintenance, five slots of road upgrades, and three agro logistics hubs across the State.
“The Abia State Government, through His Excellency, has paid a counterpart fund to the tune of ₦3.5 billion as a requirement and support for six lots of backlog road maintenance, five lots of upgrade roads across 10 LGAs in the state, and three agro logistics hubsthrough the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Program”, the Commissioner said.
He explained that the State Government’s action follows earlier engagements between Governor Otti, the Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, and the outgoing Country Director of the World Bank in Abuja.
Prince Kanu who expressed optimism that the World Bank would soon play its part to facilitate the launch of the projects, assured that the projects would commence across the benefitting LGAs soon.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Poverty alleviation and Social protection Mrs Ngozi Blessing Felix said Governor Otti has through payment of the counterpart fund demonstrated commitment to the development of rural communities through investing in long term solutions.
“Recently, His Excellency has demonstrated once again his commitment to the development of our rural communities by investing in long-term solutions as regards road infrastructure under the Abia States Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project.
“He recently approved the payment of the counterpart fund to the tune of 3.5 billion Naira, which is a key requirement for all states who are participating on the rural access project. Abia is one of the states”, Mrs. Felix stated.
