6 Local Govt Areas in Imo to benefit from MDG projects in 2013

Six more Local Government Areas in Imo State are to benefit from this year’s Millennium Development Goals projects sponsored by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

This disclosure was made by the Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Millennium Development Goals (MDG), Dr Mrs. Precious Gbenor when she paid a courtesy visit to the Imo State Governor.

Speaking during the occasion which was held at the Government House Owerri last week, Dr. Mrs. Precious Gbenor, said she was in the State with her team on advocacy and sensitization to the good people of Imo on MDG projects and to see the performance of ongoing projects on ground.

She said that since the year 2000, Imo state has collaborated and worked in partnership with them to deliver millennium goal projects to the people in the areas of health, water sanitation and education of our children.

According to her, in 2011 alone, Imo State received the sum of N1,339,384,710, which the State paid counterpart fund for millennium  goal projects in the LGAs.

Also in 2011, 3 Local Government Areas received a conditional cash grant of N100,000,000 each of which the State Government paid counterpart fund. The Local Government Areas are, Ngor Okpalla, Onuimo and Nwangele. Projects executed include rehabilitation of 14 motorized rural water schemes, renovation of 38 primary health care centers and equipping of 2 school of nursing and midwifery and conditional cash transfer to 4 households.

She further stated that in 2012 Imo State accessed N1,068,017,000 of which counterpart fund was paid for half of the amount. 4 Local Government Areas were taken on board for conditional cash transfer of N100,000,000 each. They include Ikeduru LGA, Obowo, Isu and Njaba LGAs.

Dr. Mrs. Gbenor said that this 2013 the MDG plan to reach 56,000 households across the country with condition cash transfer.

Responding, Imo State Governor Owelle Rochas okorocha assured millennium development partners of his government’s readiness to partner with them in delivering millennium goals to the people of the State.

He said it is the desire of his government that the MDG partners deal directly with the beneficiaries of their projects, the communities, through the Community Government Councils, adding that such move will give them a sense of belonging and ownership of such projects that could guarantee the protection and maintenance of the projects. Said he;

 “We want to make sure that the State government does not get directly involved in your projects, we want all our interaction with you to be Community based’”.

Speaking further, Governor Okorocha said his government would like to remove the bureaucratic ‘bottle necks’ that impedes the MDGs from achieving desired goals.

He frowned at a situation where MDG projects are replicated and sited without the involvement of the communities in areas where they are not needed due to the influence and interests of some politicians.

Governor Okorocha however commended the SSA to the Presidenton MDG for her commitment to ensure that MDG becomes a success story in the Federal Republic of Nigeria and assured her to count on the support and partnership of his government.