The Kwara State Government has spent a total of N551 million on micro community projects under its Community Development Programme in 104 communities across the State.
The State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, disclosed this on Thursday in Ilorin at the project launch and cheque presentation of N92 million to another 16 beneficiary communities of the programme.
Governor Ahmed, who was represented at the event by the State Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development, Alhaji Wasiu Odewale, said the programme is a World Bank assisted Community Development Project to the State, which is coordinated by the Kwara State Community and Social Development Agency.
While presenting the cheques to representatives of the communities, the Governor charged them to make judicious use of the funds to execute desired projects as approved by KWCSDA so as to facilitate the release of the second and third tranches.
He also charged members of the community project management committee and sub-committees to comply with the laid down procedures to avoid its attendant consequences.
He noted that the 16 beneficiary communities were spread across eight local governments in the three senatorial districts of the State, bringing the total number of benefiting communities to 104 in 2017.
The governor added that the communities were selected based on the poverty map of the State, being the poorest in terms of infrastructure.
Ahmed listed the communities to include Gulufu and Gedeworo in Edu local government; Idi-Ose in Moro; Ifedawapo and Oke-Agbede in Ilorin West; Oloro-Oja, Eleko, Aladere Magaji and Elega in Asa; Oluode- Aluwo in Offa; Oke-Atan in Oyun; Lata – Nna in Patigi: and Igbo-Owu, Ahun and Owode-Ofaro in Ifelodun local government area of the State.
Speaking with journalists at the ceremony, the acting General Manager of KWCSDA, Alhaji Yahaya Ahmed, said 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.
The acting GM recalled that Governor Ahmed had in 2015 released the sum of 50million naira as mandatory counterpart funding to facilitate the project.
Ahmed also announced that the governor had two weeks ago approved the release of another N50 million to facilitate the second tranche disbursement.
On the challenges confronting the agency in carrying out its assignment, the acting GM identified the inability of some beneficiary communities to pay their 10 per cent community contribution as a major factor slowing down the project.