The Minister/Deputy Chairman, National Planning Commission, Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman, on Monday witnessed the ceremonial flag-off of the European Union-funded intervention programme earmarked for the nine oil producing states in the country.
The event took place at the Conference Room of the Governor’s Office in Akure, the Ondo State capital, and was performed by the state Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.
Some Micro Projects and Programmes, tagged MPP9, under European Union Intervention Programme have been earmarked for the nine oil producing states of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers.
The MPP9 EU-FG programme is aimed at reducing poverty in the rural and sub-urban communities through the promotion of gender equality and participation in local governance and development.
Other areas of focus for the projects are transparency and accountability in local government administration; provision of more access to basic facilities in health, education, water supply and sanitation and roads; and awareness creation on critical issues of gender, HIV/AIDS, the environment, conflict and human rights.
In his remarks at the event, Usman said that the financing agreement for the MPP9 intervention programme, totalling 71.50 million Euro, was signed in 2008, of which the EU was to provide 45.5 million Euro, while the beneficiary communities and the local/state governments were to provide the balance of 26 million Euro, as a mark of their commitment and ownership of the programme.
Usman pointed out that for meaningful improvement to be achieved in the oil producing states, there must be synergy between the communities and their local and gtate governments, in a most meaningful and productive manner.
He disclosed that unlike in the previous programmes, the MPP9 was designed to work with reform-minded local governments, where the authorities are interested in co-operating in implementing the micro-projects in a transparent and consultative way.
He further revealed that the interventions of the EU have been well targeted and aligned almost seamlessly with the development aspirations of the country, as encapsulated in the various government blue prints, especially the Vision 20:2020, the 1st National Implementation Plan and the Government Transformation Agenda.
Usman said that under the current European Development Fund Circle, the EU has made available to the country 677 million Euro over a five-year period (2008-2013) to support the country’s development effort.
Mimiko promised that the MPP9 projects in the state will be completed on time and framework for sustainability ensured.
Mimiko disclosed that Ondo State has so far expended N3 billion on community projects in the state, with 300 projects completed, adding that a Community Development Council has been created in a bid to avoid duplication of projects and also to serve as a clearing house.
He promised to give out more funds to communities that meet the set requirements to attract funds for development projects in the state.
David Macrae, Head of EU delegation, lauded the Ondo State for community development projects, particularly in the area of maternal mortality, which he described as the leading state in Nigeria in that regard.