.As KWCSDA trains LGRs, Desk Officers
From Jimoh Taofiq Adeniyi, Ilorin
In order to further ensure that rural areas are not left out in the infrastructural development currently being embarked upon at the grassroots by the Kwara State government, the state Governor, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has assured that the long awaited counter-part funding for World Bank facilitated projects in the rural areas will be released soon.
Speaking on Wednesday at the opening ceremony of a two-day workshop for Local Government Review Committee (LGRC) members and Desk Officers from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDGs), the governor commended Kwara State Community and Social Development Agency (KWCSDA) for being in the forefront in rural development.
The governor who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, Abdulazeez Tayo Oyelowo disclosed that his administration would focus on rural development and the Kwara State Community and Social Development Agency (KWCSDA) is the vehicle to achieve the objective.
Governor Abdulrazaq who noted that the fastest hand among the participating states can draw down more money urged benefiting communities to quickly implement their projects so that other communities can also benefit.
He disclosed that the present administration in the state will pay up the outstanding balance of the counterpart funding in order for communities that are yet to benefit to enjoy infrastructural development through the World Bank micro projects. He said that his administration has been making concerted efforts at attracting funds from foreign and international bodies towards development of the state.
Earlier in her address, the General Manager, KWCSDA, Engr. (Mrs) Amamat Oluwatoyin Haruna explained that the workshop is meant to build capacity of LGRC members and desk officers of relevant ministries.
The GM who stressed the need to train and sensitize LGRCs and DOs of relevant line ministries on their roles and responsibilities stated that the agency is already supporting approved community development plans of 149 communities across the 16 local government areas of the state.
She further explained that the agency is designed to sustainably increase access to the poor to basic social infrastructure with the aim of complementing state government efforts at reducing poverty levels in the rural areas in the state.
Engr. Haruna disclosed that the state government through KWCSDA has so far drawn down a total sum of N1.3billion with over N752m disbursed to communities since 2016 till date, adding that 243 micro-projects have so far been completed while 45 are ongoing.
News Hub Mag! recalls that Kwara state last paid her annual counterpart funding of N50million in the year 2015. A back log of N200million needs to be paid to ensure that Kwara continues to enjoy the fund.
