By Steve Oni, Ilorin
Kwara State community and Social Development Agency (KWCSDA) has presented a cheque of N34 million naira to 16 community beneficiaries of the World Bank assisted Community Development Projects in Kwara State.
The 16 communities were spread across eight Local governments in Kwara North, Central and South bringing the total number of benefiting communities to 104 in 2017.
Presenting the cheque to the beneficiaries, the State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed represented by the Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development, Alhaji Wasiu Odewale charged the communities to use the money for intended purpose.
He said: “I charge you all to please expend the money judiciously for the purpose intended by executing your desired projects as approved by the Agency. The judicious and prudence use of this first tranche will enhance the release of the second tranche. I also charge you members of the community project management committee (CPMC) and sub-committees to play according to the rules of the game, in order not to run foul of the laid down procedures to avoid its attendant consequences. As you will be embarking on the execution of your choice projects for the community, please go about it peaceful in love with a unity of purpose, for the love of God and humanity.”
Speaking with journalists at the sideline of the ceremony, the Managing Director of the KWCSDA, Alhaji Yahaya Ahmed said that the projects were carried out based on the choices of the communities in the areas of electricity, water, erosion control, education, health, environment and Natural resources, transport and socio-economic intervention activities.
He said the communities were selected based on the poverty map of the State being the poorest in terms of infrastructure.
Alhaji Yahaya listed the Local Governments to include Edu, Moro and Kaiama from Kwara North, Ilorin West and Asa in Kwara Central and Offa, Oke-Ero and Isin in Kwara South.
He disclosed that a total of 83 million naira is to be disbursed for the projects, while commending, Governor Ahmed for the release of the sum of 50 million naira in 2015 as mandatory fee to facilitate the projects.
He announced that the governor has also approved another 50 million naira two weeks ago to facilitate the second tranche disbursement.
“With this we have been able to draw over 600 million naira from the World Bank and hoping that by 2018 we should be able to draw 800 million naira,” he added.
Speaking on the challenges confronting the Agency in carrying out its assignment, the acting MD identified the inability of some benefiting communities to pay their 10 percent community contribution as a major factor slowing down the project.
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